LAS VEGAS (KTNV) – Serving one of the busiest travel destinations in the United States, the airport continues to see passenger traffic as the economy recovers, and now federal agencies are asking to apply for several open positions for TSA security officers.
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McCarran International Airport authorities say passenger traffic has grown rapidly since February 2021.
“It’s gotten busier as the months have passed,” said Joe Rajchel of McCarran Airport.
“From February to April we saw a sharp increase, in February we served 1.5 million passengers,” he said.
In April 2021, 2.9 million passengers passed the Las Vegas airport.
“People are coming. The airlines are adjusting their schedules wherever people want to go, and that’s Las Vegas now,” added Rajchel.
The steady surge followed staggering declines for months as Las Vegas closed to weather the wrath of the pandemic.
Still, some parts have not recovered, including most of the convention travelers as well as international visitors.
“There are no flights around [Terminal 3] currently, “said Rajchel.
“Some airlines operate ticketing and baggage claim from T3, the building itself is open,” he said, “but the e-hall and e-gates that would normally serve international flights are not in use.”
International travel restrictions due to measures to contain COVID-19 remain in place.
Merging operations will initially benefit the airport and passengers.
“With the current volume we have, we are able to use the other gates and that helps us keep costs down by keeping resources at the gates people travel to,” said Rajchel, ready when it’s time to reopen. “
The boom in business means other parts of the airport travel process are working to keep up.
The Transportation Security Administration has announced that eligible new security officers will receive a $ 1,000 recruitment bonus.
The TSA offers both full-time and part-time positions starting at $ 16.75 an hour.
New officers receive $ 500 on launch and an additional $ 500 after one year of service with the TSA.
“We’ve worked closely, TSA and the airport, to make sure we’re ready to see anyone who wants to get to Las Vegas, we’re open,” said Karen Burke, TSA’s federal director of security for Nevada.
“We can handle it and look forward to it,” she said.
