Saturday, May 24, 2025
The Las Vegas region is taking a significant step forward in addressing its growing air travel demands as the environmental review process officially begins for the Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport near Jean and Primm. With the current main airport nearing its capacity limits, this new development aims to alleviate congestion and support the region’s rapidly expanding population and tourism industry. Scheduled for completion by 2037, the supplemental airport is designed to provide much-needed additional runway and terminal capacity, ensuring efficient and sustainable aviation growth while balancing environmental and community concerns. This initiative reflects the urgent need to expand infrastructure to keep pace with increasing passenger volumes and maintain Las Vegas’s status as a major travel hub.
The site under consideration spans about 5,752 acres located east of Interstate 15, between the towns of Jean and Primm, roughly thirty miles south of Las Vegas in the Ivanpah Valley. This area was selected to host the new airport, intended to ease congestion at the current major airport, which has been operating near its maximum capacity.
Acting as co-lead agencies, the FAA and BLM will oversee the extensive environmental impact assessment, a process expected to last several years. The airport’s completion is currently projected for 2037, reflecting the scale and complexity of the project and the careful planning required to address environmental, economic, and community factors.
The airport proposal originated in 2006 amid growing concerns about overcrowding at the existing facility. That year, the FAA issued a notice of intent to begin an environmental impact statement (EIS), followed by draft documents released in 2008 that detailed the project’s objectives and possible alternatives. However, the Great Recession and its economic fallout forced a halt in progress. In 2010, local aviation officials formally requested a suspension of the review, citing financial constraints and a challenging economic climate.
Following a period of economic recovery and a resurgence in passenger traffic to pre-pandemic levels, the project regained momentum in 2023 as the environmental review process recommenced. The planned airport will feature two runways and a terminal designed to accommodate future air traffic growth and changing aviation trends. While operational details—including airline participation and coordination with the existing airport—are yet to be finalized, the development is viewed as vital for regional transportation infrastructure.
Engaging the public is a central component of the review. To solicit feedback and address community concerns, three scoping meetings are scheduled for late July. An online meeting will be held on July 29, followed by in-person sessions on July 30 at the East Las Vegas Library and July 31 at the Primm Valley Casino Resort. Additional opportunities for submitting comments by mail or email will be provided later this year, allowing for broad public involvement.
The environmental study’s scope extends beyond the airport’s main footprint. Along with the 5,752 acres designated for airport construction, about 2,320 acres will be set aside for flood mitigation measures. Additionally, a 17,000-acre noise compatibility zone has been defined to reduce the impact of aircraft noise on surrounding communities and wildlife habitats.
Environmental groups have closely tracked the project due to its location within the sensitive Mojave Desert ecosystem. Of particular concern are the endangered desert tortoise and the white-margined penstemon (penstemon albomarginatus), a rare flowering plant found only in a few areas of the desert, including the Ivanpah Valley. Protecting these species will be a key focus throughout the environmental review.
The Las Vegas region has launched the environmental review for a new supplemental airport near Jean and Primm, aiming to relieve capacity constraints at the main airport and support growing air travel demand by 2037. This project addresses congestion while balancing environmental and community concerns.
This renewed effort to establish the Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport highlights the region’s rapid growth and underscores the critical need to expand aviation infrastructure while maintaining environmental responsibility. Achieving a balance between development and conservation will be essential as the project advances, ensuring Southern Nevada’s transportation future supports both economic vitality and ecological preservation.
