COVID-19 Can't Stop Las Vegas Helicopters from Flying...Grand Canyon Tours Daily...Safety Precautions a Success (Video)...Departures INCREASING Daily...Say "Hello" to the West Rim and South Rim

The Coronavirus has upended the Las Vegas-Grand Canyon air-tour industry. There's no doubt about that. Staff have been furloughed and flight times have been greatly scaled back. The peak of it all was in the spring and summer of 2020. Now, with health precautions firmly in place and a better understanding of how to fight (and mitigate) the virus, flights are bouncing back, and I expect this upward trend to continue as we march forward into the new year.

Sanitation is the key driver behind this resurgence. It begins with deep-cleaning all aircraft, vehicles and facilities. Next, staff are required to sanitize their hands and wear masks. The same applies to all guests. Temperature checks are done at the terminal. These requirements are methodically enforced, and, because of this, we are back in the air delivering a SAFE and HEALTHY experience that is second to none. Watch this video for a comprehensive list of our COVID-19 precautions.

COVID-19 Freezes Conventions

True, it's the fall-winter travel season and it's normal for the number of Las Vegas visitors to decrease. But this year it's especially so because there are no conventions. As such, the number of flights per day will be limited, but we're talking about a reduction that's similar to what we offered prior to the pandemic. Further, flights will be concentrated around those that are the most popular.

The short-list of tours include the Champagne picnic tour and it's sunset option, the flyover and the Las Vegas Strip. Skywalk tours are paused until Spring (airplane tours to the Skywalk will continue to be available. There has never been a Las Vegas helicopter tour to the South Rim as it's too far. If you want the South Rim, you'll have to do this airplane tour, which, IMHO, is terrific because it gets you there in 60 minutes versus 5.5 hours by car or bus.

The pandemic has affected the Picnic aspect of the Champagne Picnic tour. Right now, we are calling it a "light" picnic, and what's included changes quite regularly in order to accommodate the situation. Social distancing is also practiced at the landing site, which is a series of open-air picnic tables next to the Colorado River. I recommend you do this tour anytime during fall-winter. Stay away from the mid-afternoon flights during summer. Much too hot.

Purse Strings!

On a tight budget? Definitely consider the air-only tour. It covers all the bases, including Hoover Dam, Colorado River, Grand Canyon and more before heading back to Las Vegas. This is also the tour that requires the least amount of time (3.5 hours). Transfers to and from your hotel are included (in fact, all our tours include free transfers). The deluxe version includes limo transfers and an extended flight over the Las Vegas Strip that starts at the Stratosphere Tower and ends past the new Allegiant Stadium near the Mandalay Bay.

So far, all tours referenced are shared, which means you fly with other passengers. Personally, I'm fine with it considering our cleaning protocol and the air-filtration systems featured on each chopper. But please be aware that we also offer PRIVATE versions of all tours. This means you purchase all six seats for you and your friends and family. Many clients tell me they prefer this as it gives them the control and peace-of-mind they need to do a tour and I'm 100-percent happy to accommodate them. Remember: private tours are limited and are available first-come, first-served so RSVP yours as early as you can in order to lock it down.

West Rim Exclusively

Lastly, let it be known that Las Vegas helicopters ONLY fly to the West Rim of the Canyon. This Rim is on Hualapai Indian land and managed by the tribe. It's also the only place where you fly to the bottom of the Canyon, an option outlawed at South Rim, which is federal land and subject to the regulations set forth by the National Park Service. In "normal" times, you'd be able to add a pontoon boat ride down the Colorado River to most of the heli packages but this has been suspended until next year.

Tours referenced in this article:

Have a grand day,