It’s National Tourism Week and under Joe Lombardo and Donald Trump’s reckless leadership, Las Vegas tourism is plummeting, gas and flight costs are skyrocketing, and economists warn that a recession could be coming. Yet, Lombardo thinks Nevadans should “feel a little pain” from Trump’s tariffs.
And this “pain” has only worsened thanks to Trump’s unpopular war with Iran (that Lombardo was quick to back). Just this week, the resulting spike in jet fuel costs drove an airline out of business, leaving travelers stranded at Harry Reid International Airport and laying off nearly 1,000 Las Vegas-area airline workers while Nevadans are still paying over $5 at the pump.
Instead of helping Nevadans get their money back after Trump illegally taxed their groceries and other household goods for over a year, Lombardo was at the White House while the president unveiled his new global tariff and continues to kiss the ring every chance he gets.
Here’s the latest coverage on the Lombardo-Trump tourism crisis:
The Nevadan: Gas tops $5 in Nevada as war fallout hits wallets—and tourism
- As the US war with Iran continues with support from Gov. Joe Lombardo, fuel prices have surged, flights are being cut, and some workers say they can no longer afford to do their jobs.
- Gas prices are climbing, flights into Las Vegas are getting canceled, and life in Nevada is becoming less affordable.
- Much of that strain is tied to the ongoing US war with Iran, an effort Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo has said he supports, as global instability continues to drive up fuel costs. As of April 30, gas prices topped $5 a gallon in Nevada, nearly $1 above the national average, according to AAA.
- Those rising costs are already changing how people live and work. One Nevada woman told Fox5LasVegas she had to stop driving for Uber because gas prices were cutting too deeply into her earnings, making it impossible to turn a profit.
- The impact is also hitting the travel industry directly. Delta Air Lines recently announced it would cancel flights from Raleigh-Durham to Las Vegas and cut about 3.5% of its overall schedule this quarter to offset rising fuel costs.
Las Vegas Review-Journal: Spirit Airlines lays off 999 workers in Las Vegas
- Spirit Airlines will lay off 999 Las Vegas-area workers as part of its Saturday shutdown, according to an official notice filed with state and local officials.
- Florida-based Spirit abruptly stopped operations just after midnight Saturday, abandoning its ticket counters at Harry Reid International Airport and stranding thousands of travelers it had delivered to Las Vegas earlier and leaving those with reservations to fly out to fend for themselves.
- The abrupt shutdown left travelers scrambling to rebook flights on other airlines.
- According to the letter, Spirit had 772 flight attendants based in Las Vegas, 59 captains and 90 first officers. The rest of the staff included ramp workers and customer service representatives.
8 News Now: Rising fuel costs slash thousands of Las Vegas inbound seats
- As airfares rise to counteract increasing jet fuel prices, some airlines are also opting to suspend routes to and from Las Vegas.
- Economists say the decisions airlines make can impact Las Vegas’ tourism economy, with people changing the way they travel.
- “They’re thinking about maybe adjusting a trip, canceling altogether, or spending fewer days, and that it’s going to translate to fewer people coming in, less money being spent,” Nicholas Irwin, an economist with UNLV, said.
###
