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Las Vegas is preparing for a surge in private jet arrivals this weekend as SuperBowl LVIII approaches.
The Federal Aviation Administration of the United States has announced that there will be an estimated 3,500 more take-offs and landings between February 7 and February 12, many of which will be made by private jets.
The FAA estimates that there will be 500 private jets stationed at nearby airports, available to transport affluent individuals to and from the Super Bowl game in a luxurious manner.
More people are anticipated to arrive and depart without needing to park, in order to prevent the hectic search for available jet parking spots at the three main private jet airports in Las Vegas: Harry Reid, North Las Vegas, and Henderson.
The traffic will worsen due to the LIV Golf, sponsored by Saudi Arabia, hosting a tournament in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Country Club leading up to the Super Bowl. The tournament is set to end on Saturday.
Approximately 1,000 private jets are expected to fly into Las Vegas for the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, at the Allegiant Stadium.
WingX, a tracker for business aviation, uses past analysis of business plane arrivals at Super Bowl events and the Las Vegas Grand Prix to project figures.
On the day following the 2023 Super Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona, there were 931 departures of business jets reported, an increase from the 592 departures after the 2022 Super Bowl.
In February, there were an average of 190 private jet departures from Phoenix per day. This indicates that the sporting event brought in five times the usual amount of jet traffic.
According to a representative from WingX, the year 2023 saw a significant increase in outbound departures after the Super Bowl. With the upcoming event taking place in Las Vegas, a major hub for business jets, we anticipate a substantial increase in post-event business jet activity this weekend.
“The demand for private jets in the US is currently strong, expected to continue into 2024. While not reaching the peak levels of 2 years ago, it has still increased by 10% compared to pre-pandemic levels.”
Each private jet flight contributes to the rise of greenhouse gas emissions.
According to Benjamin Leffel, a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, mega-events like this result in significantly higher levels of emissions from air travel and energy consumption, doubling the average daily amounts.
There is currently uncertainty surrounding whether or not Taylor Swift will use a private jet to attend Travis Kelce’s game with the Chiefs. Additionally, it is unknown how the half-time performers, Usher and Justin Bieber, will make their way to the stadium.
In light of the increase in private planes coming into the region, the FAA has implemented stricter protocols to protect the airspace and those who are flying in and out.
According to the FAA, pilots flying in the vicinity of Las Vegas between February 7-12, 2024, must take note of temporary flight restrictions, adhere to special air traffic procedures, and meet additional operational requirements that will be enforced for Super Bowl LVIII.
During Super Bowl week, we anticipate an increase of approximately 3,500 takeoffs and landings at local airports, as well as 500 parked aircraft.
The Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas has been designated as a “No Drone Zone” for Super Bowl LVIII. Additionally, drones are not allowed in several other areas leading up to the event. Those who fly drones in these restricted areas without permission may have their drones taken away, be fined over $30,000, and potentially face criminal charges.
Source: independent.co.uk
