Clark County Director of Aviation Pushes for Direct Link Between Las Vegas and Japan
Summary
James Chrisley, the new senior director of aviation for Clark County (Las Vegas), is advocating for a direct air link between Las Vegas and Japan. He argues Japan is an untapped market with strong potential for international tourism, noting prior services in the 1990s by Northwest Orient/Delta and Japan Airlines that ultimately didn’t sustain.
Chrisley points to recent successes attracting European routes (Aer Lingus to Dublin and a trial with Air France to Paris) and highlights the development of MGM Resorts’ Osaka project as a factor that may make Tokyo–Las Vegas service viable again. At present, Korean Air’s daily Seoul–Las Vegas flight is the only nonstop Asia service into Harry Reid International Airport.
He’s also prioritising passenger experience improvements at Reid — especially the rapid popularity of premium lounges (Capital One in D gates, upcoming Chase Sapphire in C gates and an Amex “sidecar lounge”) — and says airlines are seeking more lounge space beyond the six currently operating.
