It’s a McCarran International Airport tradition when a new airline arrives: Showgirls and Elvis impersonators meet the first flight when it lands. Airport firefighters shower the arriving aircraft with a water arch. A press conference is held with airline executives, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and McCarran’s top bosses.
But there won’t be any fanfare for Thursday’s first-flight arrival of ArkeFly, a Dutch air carrier that is beginning twice-weekly seasonal service to McCarran.
Lay the blame on President Barack Obama, who arrives on Air Force One less than two hours after ArkeFly’s scheduled touch down.
A McCarran spokesman said ArkeFly representatives aren’t perturbed about not getting a hyped-filled welcome. In fact, the airline wasn’t planning to send an executive on the first flight anyway.
Airport officials said a formal welcome would occur later, presumably when a high-level visitor that requires additional security isn’t in the area.
Local air tour operators have complained in the past about Obama's visits because they have to alter their flight schedules whenever Air Force One enters Southern Nevada’s airspace. Obama also has been criticized for making controversial remarks about Las Vegas.
ArkeFly will fly Sundays and Thursdays through Oct. 18 to and from Amsterdam’s Schiphol International Airport.