After five years and $2.4 billion dollars T3 has finally arrived at McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada.  T3, as in “Terminal Three”, opened on June 27th and is sure to enhance the travel experience for many of the approximately 40 million passengers arriving and departing each year.

“T3” includes 14 Gates, 7 of which can be used for International Arrivals, an expansive ticketing lobby, space for two Transportation Security Administration checkpoints with up to 31 lanes, an eight-story garage with room for nearly 6,000 vehicles, more than a dozen stores and restaurants, and an automated tram system that enables Terminal 3 to handle the check-in, security and baggage claim needs of up to 26 gates at McCarran’s nearby D Concourse.  Oh, and about 300 slot machines….hard to figure.

Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic Airways flight from London’s Gatwick Airport arrived first, slightly more than 12 years after the United Kingdom-based carrier implemented then twice-weekly service to McCarran.

The new terminal allows McCarran to move some air carriers to relieve peak period congestion at Terminal 1. Initially it will serve 16 International Carriers, with Alaska, Frontier, JetBlue, Sun Country and Virgin America scheduled to move in on July 31.  Hawaiian and United will relocate their ticketing and baggage claim to T3 on August 22, though those airlines’ flights will remain at the nearby D gates.  International Carriers will include Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Air Canada, Air Berlin, and Westjet among others.

For more information on “T3″ check out this on-line  brochure.

About Deborah Thompson

Deborah Thompson is Co-Founder of New Jetsetters with over 20 years experience writing about luxury travel. The first time Deb saw the turquoise blue waters surrounding Bermuda from the air as a child, she was smitten. Already in love with the written word and writing itself, a black leather-bound diary was soon filled with treasured memories of the charming island and her stay at the luxurious Elbow Beach Hotel. Since then she has travelled far and wide, and written dozens of stories and reviews on exotic locations from around the globe. Find out more about Deborah below:

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