Plane Crashes Nosedives Public’s Trust in Air Travel and Threatens Las Vegas

Posted on: February 19, 2025, 03:32h. 

Last updated on: February 19, 2025, 03:33h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.
  • Aeorphobia is increasing in the United States
  • Flying anxiety has lifted following several recent airplane crashes and accidents
  • Experts say air travel remains safe

Another day, another plane crash. On Wednesday, two small planes collided in midair at Marana Regional Airport in Arizona, killing at least two people. The disaster is the latest in a recent string of airplane crashes and accidents that has prompted fear in many Americans’ minds about boarding an aircraft.

plane crashes airplane safety Las Vegas
Aerophobia is escalating in the United States following several recent plane crashes, including a mass casualty even in the nation’s capital. New polling suggests fewer Americans think air travel is safe. (Image: Shutterstock)

New polling from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that the public’s trust in commercial air travel has made a descent. Conducted between Feb. 6-10, the survey found that just 64% think air travel is “very safe” or “somewhat safe.” That’s down 7% from the same survey performed in February 2024.

A majority of the public continue to think plane travel is safe, though their confidence is beginning to waver,” pollsters said.

The United States went more than 20 years without a commercial plane crashing before January when a Bombardier CRJ700 airliner operated by American Airlines collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter above the Potomac River at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). All 64 aboard the airliner and three on the Sikorsky UH-60 military helicopter died.

Just days later, a private plane transporting a sick child crashed in Northeast Philadelphia killing all six aboard and another person on the ground. On Monday, a Delta flight overturned upon landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport, though all survived.

Lower Air Confidence Could Help California Tribal Casinos 

Las Vegas, the most important market in the U.S. gaming industry, relies heavily on airplane traffic to keep its more than 150K hotel rooms occupied and many casino floors bustling.

In 2024, Southern Nevada welcomed almost 42 million visitors, including six million convention attendees. Harry Reid International Airport served a record 58.4 million arriving and departing passengers.

However, gaming revenue, or the amount won by casinos in Las Vegas, slowed in recent months. The slowdown in the latter part of 2024 led to the Las Vegas Strip reporting an annual gross gaming revenue decline for the first time since 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the gaming and hospitality industries.  

With the public’s trust in air travel declining, and nearly as many U.S. adults (63%) believing car travel is as equally safe as flying, Las Vegas and Harry Reid International (LAS) could see a downturn in visitors arriving via the friendly skies.

That could also lead to some would-be visitors opting to drive to casinos closer to home. In California, for instance, the many tribal casinos in the southeastern parts of the state could benefit from the public’s fading confidence in air safety.

DC to Las Vegas

DCA has among the shortest runways of any major commercial airport. It’s also amid the nation’s most protected yet busiest airspaces, as the White House and U.S. Capitol are less than two miles away.

Southwest Airlines, the largest facilitator of air travelers in and out of Las Vegas with more than 21.65 million ticketed passengers in 2024, began nonstop service between DCA and Las Vegas last week.

The low-cost carrier offers direct flights between the nation’s capital and the nation’s casino capital on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The service will expand to daily flights beginning Thursday, March 6.