LV air traffic jumps 12.3 percent in June

Friday, July 16, 1999 | 10:27 a.m.

McCarran International Airport today reported a double-digit percentage increase in June air traffic compared to June 1998.

McCarran's record 12.3 percent passenger increase prompted the investment company Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette to maintain its "outperform" rating for Las Vegas gaming stocks.

The airport reported 2.8 million passengers arrived and departed from McCarran in June compared with 2.5 million in June 1998. For the year, passenger traffic is up 9.3 percent to 16.4 million.

Four of the top five airlines serving McCarran reported increases, paced by Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, up 11.1 percent to 231,975 passengers. The largest McCarran carrier, Southwest Airlines, was up 7.7 percent to 780,872 passengers for the month.

The only airline in the top five that suffered a decline was Reno Air, down 6.6 percent. Reno Air is cutting back flights and will be absorbed by American Airlines next month.

Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette analysts Brian Egger and Jared Smith said National Airlines' entry into the market resulted in 25,000 additional passengers for the month and boosted a performance that would have been an 11.3 percent increase without it.

The company closely tracks Las Vegas airline passenger data because past trends have forecast favorable performances in the gaming industry.