Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas saw passenger numbers fall to 3.88 million in February, a 3.3 percent drop from last year. Canadian travelers stayed home in droves, dragging down international flights by nearly 11 percent. This marks the latest blow to Sin City’s tourism recovery.
The airport handled 3,880,380 travelers last month, down from 4,012,454 in February 2025. Domestic flights took a 2.9 percent hit, with 3.58 million passengers. International arrivals plunged harder.
Here is a quick look at the breakdown:
| Category | February 2026 | February 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Passengers | 3,880,380 | 4,012,454 | -3.3% |
| Domestic | 3,576,874 | 3,678,000+ | -2.8% |
| International | 241,158 | 270,000+ | -10.9% |
Numbers come straight from the Clark County Department of Aviation report released March 25. Some U.S. airlines bucked the trend. Southwest Airlines grew 6.2 percent, while United jumped 10.9 percent.
Canadian Airlines Suffer Biggest Losses
Fewer flights from Canada fueled the international slide. WestJet, the top carrier from up north, lost 27 percent of its passengers. Air Canada dropped 23 percent.
Other budget lines fared worse:
- Flair Airlines: down 65 percent
- Porter Airlines: down 35 percent
Travelers point to trade tensions and U.S. politics as reasons. Tariffs under the Trump administration soured moods. Many Canadians now pick Mexico or Europe instead. One airlines expert called it a shift from “faucet to drip.”
Year to Date Data Paints Tough Picture
First two months of 2026 brought 7.9 million passengers through the airport, a 5.7 percent dip from last year. January alone saw 4 million, down 7.9 percent.
International travel year to date lags 15.4 percent behind. Canada drives most of that gap. In contrast, U.S. carriers hold steady or grow. This follows a 2025 total of 55 million passengers, third best ever but off the 2024 record.
Gaming spots on the Strip feel the pinch too. Visitor spending dipped in early 2026. Hotels report softer bookings, especially midweek.
Tourism Leaders Push to Win Back Canadians
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority acts fast. They renewed a 2.5 million dollar deal with Reach Global through 2029 to target Canada. A six million dollar marketing plan sits on the table.
In 2025, 1.2 million Canadians visited, 25 percent of all international guests. Officials visited Vancouver recently to pitch trips. Airlines cut 82,000 seats to Vegas in early 2026 quarters.
Other global lines gain ground. British Airways rose 4.7 percent in February. Aeromexico climbed 6.2 percent. Hope flickers if politics ease.
Las Vegas thrives on crowds, but this passenger decline stings workers from cabbies to dealers. Families planning trips face higher fares or fewer options. Yet the city’s neon lights still call.
