We Are Las Vegas

International Flights to Las Vegas to Increase for CES

United and Delta will boost international service from Jan. 3 to Jan. 9 to accommodate convention crowds.

Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Air Travel

Bold vector editorial illustration showing an airplane silhouette landing in the desert, representing increased flight capacity for Las Vegas conventions.
United and Delta are expanding international flight capacity to Las Vegas between January 3 and January 9 to support CES attendees. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you choose an airline specifically because it adds extra flights for major events?

Travelers and locals commuting to Harry Reid International Airport will see a surge in international flight volume early next year as major carriers add capacity for the Consumer Electronics Show. United and Delta are scheduled to operate expanded service between Jan. 3 and Jan. 9, 2026, to accommodate the influx of convention attendees.

Why it matters

The annual technology event consistently shapes traffic patterns around the resort corridor and airport. These scheduling shifts provide a preview of the logistics required to manage the tens of thousands of visitors arriving for the show.

United Airlines' Boeing 787-9 aircraft features 99 premium seats, consisting of eight Polaris Studios, 56 business-class suites, and 35 Premium Plus spots. The economy cabin adds 123 seats, including 33 designated as Economy Plus.

The players

United Airlines

The airline is deploying a 787-9 wide-body aircraft to increase capacity for the upcoming electronics convention.

Delta Airlines

The carrier is adding supplemental daily flights and one-off international service to Hong Kong and Taipei.

The details

United Airlines has scheduled the 787-9 for temporary service, while Delta Airlines is adding one-off flights to Hong Kong and Taipei. Tokyo-to-Las Vegas travelers arriving between Jan. 3 and Jan. 5 will be serviced by 777-200ER aircraft. These schedule adjustments are timed to align with the start of the Consumer Electronics Show, which runs from Jan. 6 through Jan. 9.

Timeline

  1. Jan. 3, 2026: Initial Tokyo flights begin.

  2. Jan. 4, 2026: Continued Tokyo-to-Las Vegas service.

  3. Jan. 5, 2026: Final scheduled Tokyo 777-200ER arrivals.

  4. Jan. 6, 2026: Consumer Electronics Show opens.

  5. Jan. 9, 2026: Consumer Electronics Show concludes.

Beyond the Strip

The Consumer Electronics Show historically dictates the pace of air traffic and resort capacity in the valley. This year's adjustments mirror previous years where major carriers have temporarily pivoted their wide-body fleets to meet convention-driven international demand.

Expect heavier traffic on the I-15 and near the airport during the first week of January. Commuters should plan for potential roadway congestion and longer curbside dwell times at Harry Reid International as thousands of visitors arrive for the event.

The takeaway

The surge in heavy aircraft operations is a direct signal that the convention season has officially arrived. Residents should prepare for significant travel delays in the resort corridor between Jan. 3 and Jan. 9.

Further reading

Learn more about local flight patterns and airport infrastructure on our Air Travel page.

Source note: This article includes information reported by InsideFlyer.

Live Poll

Would you choose an airline specifically because it adds extra flights for major events?