Crownvic - I hear your points, I agree
LAS is maxed out on runways, Ivanpah is going to be needed by 2017 or so, I completely agree with that. Transport to/from Ivanpah will be a major issue to be worked out in that time frame, not to mention potential lawsuits from Californians and environmental groups and the like. They tied up expanding US 95 for something like two years, how long will this be tied up in court for ?
Seems we just have a difference of opinion on the roles Ivanpah and
LAS will play in the Vegas Valley. I forsee
LAS remaining as is, expanding to full capacity and remaining there, no closures or sales of facilities.
LAS being the main airport, while Ivanpah is a reliever airport, akin to
LAX vs.
ONT. Ivanpah has the potential to be a great reliever airport, if the propert access is built, Ivanpah could become the preferred airport for the Southern communities, Southern Highlands, Anthem, 7 Hills, etc. If the landing/parking fees, lease rates, etc. are low enough, which they should be compared to
LAS, the charter carriers,
G4, freight carriers, would probably switch airports. In the current environment, it would not surprise me if some of the major carriers with a small
LAS presence moved over,
NW,
NK,
F9,
AA,
CO.
HP and
WN would probably set up a station, I could see
WN having 20-25 flights to the top destinations,
PHX,
SAN,
BUR,
LAX, mainly to serve the local market, not so much for the tourists. Fares from
LAS will/would rise as
LAS gets up to capacity, that would also help Ivanpah win some passengers over.
IF the CCDOA ever did decide to reduce
LAS, the west side and North side of the airport would go. Mainly the areas I mention previously along with the 1/19 runways, along with the frontage on Trop. That land would be worth the most value in $, and the least to a reduced
LAS, can not sell the South side, need the 25's for those hot and high summer days as 25R is the longest runway on the property. Would eliminating the 1/19's increase efficiency ?