The Vastness Of Sky Harbor Airport

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, located 3 miles east of downtown Phoenix, is Arizona's largest and busiest airport. Terminal 4, with 44 gates and 3.9 million square feet of space, handled 15.4 million passengers in 1991. The airport currently has more than 21,000 parking spaces across its three runways. Terminal 1, completed in 1952, was among the most modern and efficient passenger terminals of its time, costing $835,000 to build. The airport has continued to expand and modernize, with Terminal 2 opening in 1962, Terminal 3 in 1990, and ongoing improvements to facilities and services.

Terminal 4 is the largest at 3.9 million sq ft

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, located 3 miles east of downtown Phoenix, is Arizona's largest and busiest airport. Terminal 4 is the largest at 3.9 million sq ft, featuring 44 gates. It was opened in 1990 at a cost of $248 million and handled 15.4 million passengers or 70% of Sky Harbor's total traffic in 1991.

The terminal has undergone several expansions and renovations over the years to accommodate increasing passenger traffic. In 1998, a sixth concourse was added, and the international concourse was expanded to include more gates. In March 2005, a new concourse opened in Terminal 4, providing gates D1 to D8 and a new checkpoint. This concourse, the seventh in this terminal, comprised an area of 180,000 square feet and was designed with a modern look, including a high roof, beams, clerestory windows, and a Terrazzo floor.

In June 2022, a brand-new eight-gate concourse opened in Terminal 4, with gates D11-D18 occupied by Southwest Airlines. This new addition offers a range of customer amenities, such as access to charging stations in every seat, an Animal Relief Area, a Family Restroom, a Nursing Room, and hearing loop connectivity. The space spans 275,000 square feet, contributing to the overall size of Terminal 4.

Terminal 4's size of 3.9 million square feet showcases the significant scale of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. This terminal, along with the others, has played a crucial role in establishing the airport as one of the nation's major aviation hubs, catering to the growing demand for air travel in the region.

Terminal 2 closed in 2020

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a civil-military public airport located 3 miles from downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It is the largest and busiest airport in Arizona and ranked 8th busiest in the US and 11th busiest in the world in 2021. The airport has three runways and over 21,000 parking spaces.

Terminal 2, the airport's oldest terminal, closed in February 2020. The terminal, which opened in 1962, was once considered one of the country's most modern facilities. However, by the time of its closure, it could no longer keep up with the changing demands of modern aviation. The terminal's final flight, Alaska Airlines Flight 654, arrived on time at 7:06 pm on the day of the closure.

In the weeks leading up to the closure, airlines operating out of Terminal 2, including Alaska Airlines, Boutique Air, Contour Airlines, and United Airlines, relocated to Terminal 3. Terminal 2's parking garage and lot remained open to the public, offering more affordable parking options than the other terminals, although passengers would have to walk to Terminal 3 or take the PHX Sky Train to Terminal 4 to catch their flights.

The closure of Terminal 2 marked the end of an era for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The terminal had served the airport for 58 years, and its closure was met with a mix of emotions from employees and residents alike. A celebration was held in the lobby on the night of the closure, and a farewell party was organized by airport officials to give everyone a chance to say goodbye to the historic terminal.

Following the closure, the airport planned to tear down Terminal 2 as part of its 20-year plan. The Paul Coze mural that hung in the lobby was carefully relocated to the Rental Car Center, where it would be accessible to the public. While some, like Colvin-Prosnier, wished for the terminal to be preserved and restored, perhaps turned into a hotel, the airport decided to demolish the building to make way for future developments.

Terminal 3 cost $35 million to build

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a civil-military public airport located in Maricopa County, Arizona, approximately 3 miles east of downtown Phoenix. It is the largest and busiest airport in Arizona and, in 2021, it was ranked as the 8th busiest airport in the United States and the 11th busiest worldwide.

The airport's first "modern" terminal was completed in October 1952 at a cost of $853,000. Terminal 2, which opened in 1962, was constructed for $2.7 million and offered 330,000 square feet of space. Terminal 2 featured a prominent 75-foot-wide mural by the late Paul Coze, depicting Phoenix's past, present, and future. However, due to increasing passenger usage, the construction of Terminal 3 became necessary.

Terminal 3, which opened in 1990, cost $35 million to build. It covers 3.9 million square feet and initially included a $13 million parking garage. Terminal 3 continues to be a vital part of the airport, offering state-of-the-art facilities and services to passengers. In 2020, a modernization project worth $590 million was completed, which included various upgrades such as a new security checkpoint, ticket counters, and the renovation of the North Concourse.

Over the years, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has undergone significant expansions and improvements to accommodate the growing demand for air travel. The airport currently has three runways and offers more than 21,000 parking spaces, showcasing its capacity to handle a large volume of passengers and aircraft.

Sky Harbor is 3 miles from downtown Phoenix

Sky Harbor International Airport is just 3 miles from downtown Phoenix, making it one of the closest airports to a major city in the United States. In fact, of the 10 largest US cities, only San Diego has an airport closer to its downtown area, which is 2.3 miles away.

The airport is so close to the city that folks driving on Interstate 10 approaching or departing downtown Phoenix can see planes flying in and out of Sky Harbor. The proximity of the airport to the city is quite rare, as the four largest US cities—New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston—have airports that are 9.5 to 15.5 miles from their downtown areas.

The airport was established outside the city limits, about a mile away, and was originally called Sky Harbor Municipal Airport. It was purchased by Phoenix in July 1935 from Acme Investment Co. for $100,000. At the time, the airport was 285 acres in size and earned the nickname "The Farm" due to its isolation from the city.

Over time, the city and its international airport grew closer together. Today, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is Arizona's largest and busiest airport. In 2021, it was the 8th busiest airport in the United States and the 11th busiest worldwide. The airport has three runways and more than 21,000 parking spaces.

Passenger numbers rose from 1 million in 1962 to 11.6 million in 1985

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, located 3 miles (or 4.8 km) east of downtown Phoenix, is Arizona's largest and busiest airport. It is also one of the major airports in the United States, with an annual average of around 19-20 million passengers.

The airport's history of expansion is closely tied to its rising passenger numbers. In 1952, the opening of Terminal 1, which cost $835-853,000, marked the beginning of Phoenix Sky Harbor's emergence as a major passenger airport. At the time, it was considered one of the most modern and efficient terminals. However, as air traffic increased, the need for additional terminals became evident.

Terminal 2, which opened in 1962, was a significant milestone as it coincided with the year Sky Harbor surpassed the one million passenger mark. This terminal, costing $2.7 million, offered 330,000 square feet of space and 19 gates. Despite the planners' expectations that it would suffice until the year 2000, passenger usage tripled in less than a decade, necessitating further expansion.

The construction of Terminal 3, which began in 1976 or 1977 and opened in 1979, was a response to the rapid growth in passenger traffic. This new terminal, with its 880,000 square feet of space and 23 gates, set new standards and played a crucial role in accommodating the increasing number of travellers. By the end of 1985, passenger traffic at Terminal 3 had soared to 11.6 million, a remarkable increase from the one million passengers served in 1962.

Since then, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has continued to expand and modernize its facilities. Terminal 3 underwent a $590 million modernization project that concluded in 2020, and Terminal 4, which opened in 1991, has been expanded multiple times to accommodate growing passenger numbers. The airport's continuous growth led to the announcement of a new terminal in 2024, highlighting its evolving role as a major hub for air travel.

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