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By Robert L. Candiotti December 12, 2010 According to the Airbus
jumbo jet manufacturing company, today there are 26 mega-cities in the world, each with populations of more than 10 million
people. In 2015,
says Airbus, there are expected to be 33 mega-cities. This is
becoming a planet increasingly centered in "vibrant and dynamic" big cities, notes Airbus. Today, "more than half of the world's population is living in urban areas. By 2030, that figure
will increase to two thirds of the population." States
Airbus, projecting ahead to that point, "1.8 billion additional people are expected to move from rural to urban areas." There will be an "international tourism market." And the urban planet will certainly be attracted to the types of classy and unique urban entertainment that Las Vegas
can provide. But the question is will tomorrow's international
urban travelers - with the availability of numerous interesting A380 destinations all around the world - be able to fly
easily to Las Vegas?
| 20 years from now, Las Vegas will rely on Ivanpah. |
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| Las Vegas is not a mega-city with population, but is a mega-city with vibrancy. (By Alaskan Dude). |
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| Las Vegas has extraordinary uniqueness. |
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| Still, Las Vegas will need Airbus A380 accessibility to retain global stature. (Courtesy sayzey). |
If Ivanpah Valley Airport is not built, Las Vegas will not
be synchronized with the transformation and acceleration of A380 air transportation markets that will emerge around the world
over the next 20 years. International consumers of recreation
and revelry will be strongly attracted to Las Vegas if jet accessibility is easy and frequent. Airbus is saying there are many countries - more than 20 - that will be experiencing improvements in
their economic situations and air transportation infrastructures.
To date, there have been orders for 234 Airbus A380s. Many of the improving countries will be flying A380s. And the citizens
of these countries, experiencing economic improvements and exansion of openness, will be attracted to get to Las Vegas directly
and smoothly. Las Vegas is not going to take advantage of these
changes if it does not have aviation capacity for the Airbus A380s to land and take off at Las Vegas. And that has to be with the construction of Ivanpah Valley Airport because Las Vegas' McCarran International
Airport just will not be able to have A380 infrastructure.
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| Arriving at Las Vegas is unquestionably exciting. |
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| 50% of all visitors to Southern Nevada travel today through McCarran. (Courtesy purpletwinkie). |
Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport is a very busy and
well-handled airport. In 2008, McCarran is said to have been the 15th busiest airport in the world, with 44 million passengers. On 2,800 acres, surrounded in every direction by Las Vegas' large urban development, McCarran has four
runways. According to Wikipedia, McCarran had 578,947 lakeoffs and landings in 2008. First established in 1948, over several decades, McCarran Airport has been an essential aspect of Las
Vegas' extraordinary success. Clark County Department of Aviation, operating the airport,
states, "Nearly 50% of all visitors to Southern Nevada travel through McCarran International Airport."
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| No doubt, Las Vegas success connected to McCarran. |
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| Slot machines at McCarran Airport's baggage claim area. (Courtesy Jerome and Wikipedia). |
Currently, an additional Terminal 3 is being constructed. Reports
say the new terminal, opening in 2012, will add 14 additional gates.
Some of the added gates will serve international aircraft, and probably the upcoming Boeing 787 jets will be able to
be accommodated there. However, because
of the runway descent-ascent requirements of the Airbus A380s, those airplanes will never be able to utilize
McCarran. Clark
County Department of Aviation is saying, with the additional Terminal 3, McCarran Airport is growing to achieve
a capacity of 53.6 million annual passengers.
Still, it is obvious the world-wide airlines with growing fleets of A380s will be eyeing Las Vegas to include in their destinations,
but this will not be possible until the 6,000 acre Ivanpah Airport is built between Jean and Primm, Nevada, 30 miles south
of Las Vegas.
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