Lois Larson
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is Arizona's largest and busiest airport. It is also one of the largest commercial airports in the United States, serving more than 50 million passengers in 2024. With more than 1,000 aircraft arriving and departing daily, it is a hub for American Airlines and a base for Frontier and Southwest Airlines. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has three runways and can accommodate large aircraft such as the KC-135R Stratotanker. The airport has a simple and efficient design, with two terminals and eight concourses, offering a variety of dining options and convenient connections for travellers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of terminals | 2 (Terminal 3 and Terminal 4) |
| Number of concourses in Terminal 4 | 4 |
| Number of runways | 3 |
| Number of parking spaces | 21,000+ |
| Number of passengers (2023) | 48 million+ |
| Number of passengers (2024) | 50 million+ |
| Number of aircraft arriving and departing (daily average) | 1,000+ |
| Number of passengers arriving and departing (daily average) | 130,000+ |
| Number of gates in the eighth concourse | 8 |
| Size of Terminal 2 | 880,000 square feet |
| Size of Terminal 3 | 3.9 million square feet |
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What You'll Learn
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is Arizona's largest and busiest airport
- The airport is 3 miles east of downtown Phoenix and has 3 runways
- It has 2 terminals, with Terminal 3 being 3.9 million square feet
- More than 1,000 aircraft arrive and depart each day
- The airport is home to the 161st Air Refueling Wing, flying the KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is Arizona's largest and busiest airport
The airport has a long history, dating back to 1928 when it was founded and built by J. Parker Van Zandt, the owner of Scenic Airways. Over the years, the airport has changed hands several times and expanded to meet the growing demand for air travel. In 2023, the airport welcomed more than 48 million passengers, and in 2024, it surpassed 50 million passengers in a single calendar year, setting a new record. To accommodate this growth, a new terminal is planned for construction on the west end of the property, featuring a new customs facility and designed to have net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has three runways and two separate terminals (Terminal 3 and Terminal 4). Terminal 4 is the larger of the two, with four individual concourses connected by wide corridors and fast-moving walkways. The airport is well-designed, making it easy to navigate and efficient for passengers to move between terminals and gates. This user-friendly design has earned it the title of "America's Friendliest Airport®".
While the airport primarily serves domestic destinations, there are a limited number of international flight options. However, the demand for international travel is expected to increase, and the airport is taking steps to accommodate this by constructing a new terminal with a large customs area. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport also has a significant economic impact, contributing more than $44 billion annually to the local economy. Overall, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a vital transportation hub for Arizona, providing efficient and accessible air travel for millions of passengers each year.
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The airport is 3 miles east of downtown Phoenix and has 3 runways
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is located 3 miles (2.6 nautical miles or 4.8 km) east of downtown Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona. It is the largest and busiest airport in Arizona and is among the largest commercial airports in the United States. In 2021, it was the 11th busiest airport in the US and 33rd busiest in the world, serving more than 48 million passengers that year. The following year, it surpassed 50 million passengers in a single calendar year, an all-time record for the facility. On a typical day, more than 1,000 aircraft arrive and depart, carrying more than 130,000 passengers and over 1,000 tons of air cargo.
The airport has three runways, with Terminals 3 and 4 still in operation. Terminal 4 has four individual concourses, connected by wide corridors featuring fast-moving walkways. Terminal 3, which opened in 1990, covers 3.9 million square feet, while Terminal 2, which closed in February 2020, covered 880,000 square feet. The airport's first "modern" terminal was completed in October 1952 and cost $853,000. Terminal 1 was demolished in 1990, and Terminal 2 closed in February 2020.
The airport serves as a hub for American Airlines and a base for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines. It is also home to the 161st Air Refueling Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard, which flies the KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft. In addition to its domestic role, the unit also performs overseas missions.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has been praised for its efficient design, ease of navigation, and the variety of dining options available. It has been described as a fun place to hang out, with plenty of people and plane-watching opportunities. The airport has an annual economic impact of more than $44 billion.
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It has 2 terminals, with Terminal 3 being 3.9 million square feet
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is Arizona's largest and busiest airport. It is located 3 miles (4.8 km) east of downtown Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. The airport serves as a hub for American Airlines and a base for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
The airport has two terminals, Terminal 3 (John S. McCain III) and Terminal 4 (Barry M. Goldwater), serving various domestic and international flights. Terminal 3 was renamed in honour of Senator John McCain by the Phoenix City Council in January 2021. Terminal 4 is named after former Arizona Senator and 1964 Presidential candidate Barry M. Goldwater. Terminal 4 is the largest and busiest of the two terminals with 86 gates, divided into eight satellite concourses connected behind security. Terminal 3 is located on the west side of the airport, while Terminal 4 is on the east side. Terminal 3 has 25 gates numbered E1 to E10 and F1 to F15.
Terminal 3 has a total area of 3.9 million square feet and consists of 3 levels. Level 1 houses ticketing facilities, baggage claim, and ground transportation services. Level 2 has the security checkpoint, and Level 4 is the departures level. The main lobby has a selection of shops and restaurants, as do both concourses where the gates are located. The F gates are connected to the main lobby via a pedestrian walkway. The PHX Sky Train station is located on the west side of Terminal 3 and connects passengers to Terminal 4, the economy parking lot, and the Valley Metro Rail Station.
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More than 1,000 aircraft arrive and depart each day
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a bustling hub, with more than 1,000 aircraft arriving and departing each day. This equates to an annual passenger count of over 48 million in 2023, with this number surpassing 50 million in 2024, an all-time record for the airport. With such high traffic, it's no surprise that Phoenix's airport is Arizona's largest and busiest, ranking as the 11th busiest airport in the United States and 33rd busiest worldwide in 2021.
The airport's three runways and two terminals efficiently manage this substantial traffic. Terminal 4, with its four individual concourses, is particularly noteworthy for its convenient design, featuring wide corridors and fast-moving walkways that make navigating the airport a breeze. The airport's accessibility and user-friendliness are further enhanced by its ample parking options, offering over 21,000 parking spaces.
The airport's role as a hub for American Airlines and a base for Frontier and Southwest Airlines contributes significantly to its high aircraft traffic. Additionally, the airport accommodates military operations, serving as the home of the 161st Air Refueling Wing, an Air Mobility Command unit of the Arizona Air National Guard.
Despite its impressive traffic numbers, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has faced limitations in attracting more international flights. This is partly due to a lack of investment in infrastructure to accommodate wide-body international aircraft and the absence of a dedicated customs facility. However, plans for a new terminal, announced by Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego in 2024, aim to address these issues and accommodate the airport's growing demand.
With its high daily aircraft movement, efficient design, and plans for expansion, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport showcases its critical role in connecting Arizona to the rest of the world.
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The airport is home to the 161st Air Refueling Wing, flying the KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a civil-military airport located 3 miles (4.8 km) east of downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It is the largest and busiest airport in Arizona and was the 11th busiest airport in the United States and 33rd busiest in the world in 2021.
The airport is home to the 161st Air Refueling Wing (161 ARW), an Air Mobility Command (AMC)-gained unit of the Arizona Air National Guard. The 161 ARW is one of two flying units in the Arizona ANG and operates the KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft. The KC-135R is a variant of the KC-135 Stratotanker, which has been in service with the United States Air Force for over 50 years. The KC-135 provides the core aerial refuelling capability for the Air Force, enhancing its global reach and mission capabilities.
The KC-135R is a receiver-capable variant of the aircraft, with eight modified with either a Boeing or LTV receiver system and a secure voice SATCOM radio. The KC-135 has also been utilised in various research projects at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center. The 161 ARW's KC-135R aircraft, tail number 57-1419, is the oldest active aircraft in the U.S. military, having been built in 1957 and accumulating over 22,300 flight hours as of 2013.
As Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport serves as a base for the 161 ARW and their KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft, it is equipped to handle this specific type of plane. The airport's infrastructure, including runways, taxiways, and parking areas, is designed to accommodate military aircraft operations, ensuring the KC-135R can safely operate from this facility.
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Frequently asked questions
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is one of the largest commercial airports in the United States. It has three runways and can accommodate large aircraft such as the KC-135R Stratotanker.
On a typical day, more than 1000 aircraft and 130,000 passengers arrive and depart from the airport. In 2024, the airport surpassed 50 million passengers in a single calendar year, an all-time record.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has two terminals, Terminal 3 and Terminal 4, with eight concourses and gates between them. There are also more than 21,000 parking spaces available. The airport is designed to be walkable, with fast-moving walkways connecting the concourses. The airport also lacks a proper customs area, which has impacted its ability to handle international traffic.
