Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) has unveiled a free, on-demand American Sign Language interpretation service. Using the Aira ASL app, travelers connect with certified interpreters during check-in, security screening and boarding. The pilot coincides with this month's DeafNation World Expo, drawing thousands of deaf visitors to Las Vegas. LAS joins Henderson Executive and North Las Vegas airports in offering the service free while on site. Airport officials say the program complements existing accessibility tools for blind and cognitively impaired passengers.
Key Points
- Why it matters: Removes communication barriers for deaf travelers at one of the nation's busiest leisure airports.
- Service uses Aira ASL app to connect users with certified interpreters via live video on smartphones.
- Available free at Harry Reid, Henderson Executive and North Las Vegas airports during pilot phase.
- Launch timed for DeafNation World Expo, but expected to remain while airport evaluates wider rollout.
Snapshot
Harry Reid International handled 57.6 million passengers last year, and traffic is still climbing. For deaf and hard-of-hearing travelers, navigating sprawling terminals often involves written notes or lip-reading at loud counters. The new program bridges that gap. A traveler simply opens the Aira ASL app, taps "Call Interpreter," and within seconds a live video call appears, ready to translate between spoken English and American Sign Language. The service is geofenced to remain free while the user's phone is on airport property, assuring universal access without roaming charges or subscription fees. Clark County's aviation department says early feedback from expo attendees has been "overwhelmingly positive," with average connection times under 30 seconds.
Background
Accessible Travel tools have expanded rapidly since the Americans with Disabilities Act turned thirty-five in 2025. Airlines now stream captioned safety videos, and many U.S. airports feature induction loops for travelers with hearing aids. Harry Reid Airport's latest initiative builds on two existing digital aids: Aira Explorer, which offers audio navigation for blind travelers, and MagnusCards, which uses pictorial "card decks" to guide passengers with cognitive disabilities through tasks such as TSA screening. Director of Aviation Rosemary Vassiliadis said the airport's goal is to create "a seamless, self-directed journey" regardless of ability. Partnering with Aira, a Las Vegas-based accessibility tech firm, allowed the airport to stand up the ASL pilot in less than three months, just in time for DeafNation World Expo at the Westgate Resort.
Latest Developments
Pilot Program Details
During the pilot, the Aira ASL app auto-detects when a user's phone is within the LAS, HND, or VGT geofence. Calls route through a secure portal to nationally certified interpreters who average eight years of professional experience. Most sessions last under five minutes-long enough to clarify gate changes, order a meal, or request wheelchair assistance. Interpreters are trained on aviation terminology, ensuring phrases like "TSA PreCheck," "consolidated checkpoint," or "interline baggage" translate accurately. Airport signage now features QR codes directing travelers to download the app on iOS or Android, and gate agents have quick-reference cards explaining the workflow to hearing travelers who need to converse through an interpreter.
Wider Accessibility Push at LAS
Harry Reid's accessibility roadmap extends beyond mobile apps. Concourse C restrooms recently added visual annunciators that flash during fire alarms, and new service-animal relief stations include tactile floor paths. The airport is also piloting high-contrast wayfinding stripes between Terminal 1 baggage claim and rideshare pickups, a design borrowed from Narita Airport. Officials say these upgrades address feedback from disability-advocacy groups consulted during the 2024 master-plan update. If the ASL pilot meets its 90 percent satisfaction target, LAS will integrate interpreter kiosks at information desks and explore funding to keep the service free long-term.
Analysis
For U.S. airports chasing record traffic, accessibility upgrades are no longer a niche amenity-they are a competitive differentiator. According to data from the Hearing Loss Association of America, roughly 48 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss. An airport that eliminates communication friction not only complies with federal law but also wins loyalty from a growing market of travelers who plan trips around inclusive facilities. Harry Reid's move mirrors Portland International's 2024 rollout of video remote interpreting and positions LAS as a testbed for scalable solutions across Clark County. The timing aligns with Las Vegas tourism authorities' push to diversify visitor segments ahead of the 2037 opening of Southern Nevada's supplemental airport. By partnering with a tech firm already serving blind travelers, LAS gains cross-platform synergies: one backend, multiple user interfaces. If the pilot succeeds, expect other hub airports-especially those hosting large conventions-to sign similar deals in the next two years.
Final Thoughts
Travel should be exciting, not stressful. Harry Reid International's free, on-demand ASL interpretation shows how targeted technology can remove barriers and extend Las Vegas hospitality to every guest. As more airports follow suit, seamless ASL interpretation at Harry Reid Airport may soon become the industry standard.