Reno-Tahoe airport – ‘biggest little city’ airport must readjust to the region's new role

Reno is located in the north western part of the State of Nevada, approximately 36 miles (58 km) from Lake Tahoe. It has long been known as "The Biggest Little City in the World", being another location of many casinos, along with Las Vegas to the south, and also for being the birthplace of the Caesars Entertainment Corporation. Reno is the second most populous Nevada city besides Las Vegas, with an estimated population of 235,000 and 440,000 counting the neighbouring city of Sparks, and together they make up the city-region.

Unlike other US airports that have featured recently in CAPA profile reports such as this (e.g. New York JFK and Chicago O'Hare), there are few peer airports that can be adequately compared and contrasted with Reno-Tahoe. It stands alone on the edge of desert but the airport's significance outweighs its small traffic numbers - as a destination end point, sometimes literally, for many tourists.

This report examines present and future growth trends at the airport, local airport statistics, how Reno-Tahoe matches up to competing airports across a range of metrics, at construction activities, and at its ownership.