US Airlines Are Cutting Flights To Las Vegas, Making Travel Harder For Visitors

Las Vegas is one of the top travel destinations in the U.S., and the Las Vegas Strip is considered one of the most iconic attractions in the country worth visiting at least once. But Sin City might be losing its luster, and as fewer people visit the Nevada entertainment hub, it's becoming harder to reach the city by air. Las Vegas Review-Journal reported a 3.5% decrease in the number of available airline seats on flights to Las Vegas between 2024 and 2025. More recent reports indicate a 5.14% decrease in passengers to the city's Harry Reid International Airport when comparing the first quarter of 2026 to the same period in 2025.

Spirit, once the second-biggest airline at Las Vegas' airport, began cutting flights to the neon-drenched city in early 2026 before abruptly shutting down in May, leaving travelers with fewer budget-friendly flight options. Alaska Airlines also announced the discontinuation of its route between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, beginning in early 2026. Delta cut a handful of Las Vegas routes from its schedule this year, though some suspended itineraries are expected to be temporary. Besides fewer flight options to choose from, visitors flying to Las Vegas must also face soaring airfare: Nationwide, the price of a plane ticket has increased nearly 21% between April 2025 and April 2026, and the price hikes are expected to worsen due to the ongoing Iran war oil crisis.

Even though tourism skyrocketed in Nevada in 2024, that trend hasn't held up. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported a 7.5% drop in visitor numbers between 2024 and 2025, which it blamed on "more cautious consumer sentiment" and "ongoing international travel considerations." Other sources have suggested that President Donald Trump's strict immigration policies and tariffs on countries such as Canada have discouraged international travelers from visiting Sin City. No matter the reason, the smaller demand for flights to Las Vegas has undoubtedly impacted supply, resulting in fewer air routes.

Compounding these issues are other factors, such as fuel costs. Specifically, Delta's Raleigh-Las Vegas route, expected to be shelved only until mid-September, was cut from the schedule in part due to high fuel costs triggered by the war in Iran (via Las Vegas Sun). Then there are considerations such as the shortage of air traffic controllers in the Las Vegas area (via Fox5). Without enough controllers to direct flights over Nevada's skies, there can be delays and cancellations, which indirectly impact the number of available flights. As an alternative, you may want to take a road trip instead of flying during your next vacation, which will also allow you to visit spots like Red Rock Canyon, just outside of Las Vegas.