Reno–Tahoe International Airport

Early years

The airport was built in 1929 by Boeing Transport Inc. and named Hubbard Field after Boeing Air Transport VP and air transport pioneer Eddie Hubbard. It was acquired by United Airlines in 1936 and purchased by the City of Reno in 1953. The August 1953 OAG shows 15 scheduled departures each weekday; ten years later there were 28. Jets (United 727s) arrived in 1964, but the airport didn't rate a nonstop to Los Angeles until 1969; a nonstop to Chicago began in 1970.

The first terminal building was completed in time for the 1960 Winter Olympics held in Squaw Valley, California in 1960. The current configuration of the ticketing lobby and concourses were built in 1979. The airport received its current name in 1994 (which honors both the city and the nearby popular tourist destination Lake Tahoe), when the terminal was named in honor of retired Air Force Reserve Major General and former U.S. Senator Howard Cannon. Prior to that the airport itself was named Cannon International Airport.

Reno–Tahoe International was the hub of Reno Air, a now-defunct medium-sized airline that had MD-80 and MD-90s to many cities until it was bought by American Airlines and later disposed of in 2001. Reno Air's first flight was on July 1, 1992 and its last flight was August 30, 1999. On New Years Eve of 2003, Continental Airlines completed the installation of self check-in in the continental United States at Reno International.

Expansion

The terminal was remodeled in 1996, 2009 and 2013. In 1996 the baggage claim and ticketing area was updated with technology and decor similar to Las Vegas. In 2008 the Airport began a $70 million project that enhanced the baggage screening equipment and remodeled the ticketing area with a modern Tahoe theme; the project was entirely completed in 2010. To complete the renovations, the TSA ordered the shutdown of the ticketing area, so the airport built a full service heated/a/c temporary ticketing tent, which took up 3 lanes out of 6 in front of the airport for taxi, pick up and drop off. In March 2013, a $24 million expansion of the airport was completed and focused on a new centralized TSA Security Checkpoint on the Ground Level, and above it, a shopping/dining promenade called "High Mountain Marketplace" which consists of CNBC News, InMotion Entertainment, Brighton and No Boundaries Outdoor Apparel. Dining options include McDonald's, Timber Ridge Restaurant, among others in the two concourses. There are giant windows in the dining areas that allow expansive views of the mountains and runways. Leading major airport designers designed the new spaces. With the new security checkpoint, travelers can now access both concourses without having to go through security. Future projects may include updates to the concourses.

The airport celebrated 75 years of service in November 2003. Over the last 10 years more than $70 million have been put into investments to modernize and expand the airport.

International service

On February 2014, the airport announced that Volaris planned to start operating non-stop service flights to Guadalajara, Mexico sometime in 2015. Since the DOT approved the route, it is Reno's first international non-stop service since 1999. On October 7, 2014, the DOT and the airport announced that Volaris would start a twice weekly flight to Guadalajara, Mexico from Reno on December 16, 2014.

In November 2014, Thomas Cook Airlines announced that it planned to introduce twice weekly, non-stop flights from London–Gatwick to Reno starting in December 2015. It would have been the first transatlantic route from Reno Airport. However, Thomas Cook Airlines canceled these plans in May 2015 stating insufficient border control capacities at the airport to handle their Airbus A330.

Overview

Reno/Tahoe International Airport covers an area of 1,450 acres (587 ha) at an elevation of 4,415 feet (1,346 m) above mean sea level. For the 12-month period ending June 30, 2012, the airport had 82,787 aircraft operations, an average of 226 per day: 48% scheduled commercial, 35% general aviation, 14% air taxi, and 3% military. At that time 122 aircraft were based here: 56% single-engine, 29% multi-engine, 7% military, 6% jet, and 3% helicopter. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems categorized it as a primary commercial service airport (more than 10,000 enplanements per year).

It has three runways with concrete surfaces: 16R/34L is 11,002 by 150 feet (3,353 x 46 m); 16L/34R is 9,000 by 150 feet (2,743 x 46 m); 7/25 is 6,102 by 150 feet (1,860 x 46 m). In the fall of 2010, the airport opened a new 200-foot (61-meter) ATCT to replace the 70-foot (21-meter) control tower that had been used for more than 50 years. It was designed by the Parsons Design Firm, responsible for the design of many other ATCT towers. The cost of the new tower was approximately 30 million dollars.

The passenger terminal is named after the late US Senator Howard Cannon. The main lobby of the terminal contains an exhibit featuring the bust of Nevada State Senator (and Nevada State Senate Minority Leader) William J. "Bill" Raggio. Raggio is described in the exhibit as being "The Father of the Airport Authority."

Military facilities

The airport is also host to Reno Air National Guard Base, an approximately 60-acre (24 ha) complex which was established on the west side of the airport in 1954 when Air National Guard units relocated from the former Stead Air Force Base in Reno.

The base is home to the 152d Airlift Wing (152 AW), a Nevada Air National Guard unit operationally gained by the Air Mobility Command (AMC) and equipped with C-130H Hercules aircraft.

Terminals

Reno–Tahoe International Airport provides two concourses with an overall 23 jet bridge gates.

Concourse B

Concourse B has 11 gates (B1 to B11). As of May 28, 2015, 3 carriers operate out of Concourse B, with 10 of the 11 gates being utilized.

Concourse C

Concourse C has 12 gates (C1 to C12). As of November 9, 2014, 6 carriers operate out of Concourse C, with all 12 gates currently being utilized.

These airlines have around 140 flights daily to and from the airport, providing service to 15 cities non-stop and about 31 cities with a same plane one stop flight. Each terminal used to have its own security area on the concourse level, but were replaced in March 2013 with a combined security area on the first floor for both terminals.

Airline market share

Car rental

The airport provides convenient access to nine different rental car agencies with rental car pick up available right outside the terminal building. All nine rental car counters are located in Baggage Claim. After completing the rental agreement inside, vehicles may be collected from the Parking Structure located just outside the Baggage Claim.

Taxis and limousines

The passenger waiting area for taxis and limousines is located outside of the D Doors located North of Baggage Claim.

Bus

Public transportation to/from the airport is available via RTC Ride:

Shuttles

Complimentary Hotel Shuttles stop along the curb, outside the D Doors located North of Baggage Claim, to pick up passengers.

Accidents and incidents

Sound levels

Sound levels have been analyzed for over two decades at this airport, with one of the first studies being a comprehensive production of aircraft sound level contour maps. Later analysis was conducted to analyze sound levels at Kate Smith School and provide retrofitting to reduce sound levels through a Federal Aviation Administration grant.