Owais Crawford
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (IATA: PHX, ICAO: KPHX, FAA LID: PHX) is a large airport located 3 miles (4.8 km) east of downtown Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is the largest and busiest airport in Arizona and was ranked as the 14th busiest airport in the United States and 33rd busiest in the world in 2021. The airport serves as a hub for several major airlines and has undergone significant expansion and development since its founding in 1928. With its extensive flight network, convenient transportation options, and high passenger traffic, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is undoubtedly one of the largest airports in the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Type | Civil-military public international airport |
| Location | 3 miles (2.6 nmi; 4.8 km) east of downtown Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States |
| Size | Among the largest commercial airports in the United States |
| Ranking | 14th busiest airport in the United States and 33rd busiest in the world in 2021 |
| Terminals | 2 |
| Concourses | 8 |
| Gates | 86 |
| Airlines | American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, British Airways, Maddux Air Lines |
| Transport | Taxi, limousine, ride share, shuttle, PHX Sky Train |
| Roads | East Sky Harbor Boulevard, Interstate 10, Arizona State Routes 143 and 202 |
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What You'll Learn
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is Arizona's largest and busiest airport
- It is 3 miles from downtown Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona
- The airport is served by the PHX Sky Train, an automated people-mover
- Terminal 4 is the largest and busiest terminal with 86 gates
- The airport was founded and built by J. Parker Van Zandt in 1928
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is Arizona's largest and busiest airport
The airport has undergone several expansions and renovations over the years. Terminal 3, which began construction in 1998, added a new concourse to the north side of the terminal. In 2002, construction began on the eight-gate S2 concourse for Southwest Airlines, which was completed in 2004 with a unique architectural design. Terminal 4, named after former Arizona Senator and 1964 Presidential candidate Barry M. Goldwater, is the largest and busiest terminal with 86 gates spread across seven satellite concourses.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport serves as a hub for major airlines such as American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. The airport also has a military presence, housing the 161st Air Refueling Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard, known as Goldwater Air National Guard Base.
The airport has a rich history, dating back to 1928 when it was founded and built by J. Parker Van Zandt, the owner of Scenic Airways. It was the fourth airport built in Phoenix and has grown to become one of the largest commercial airports in the United States. In 2021, it was ranked as the 14th busiest airport in the country and 33rd busiest in the world.
With its convenient location, efficient transportation options, and continuous expansion, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a vital gateway to the state of Arizona, accommodating both domestic and international travellers.
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It is 3 miles from downtown Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a large airport located 3 miles (4.8 km) east of downtown Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona. Maricopa County is one of the largest counties in the United States by area, spanning 9,224 sq mi (23,890 sq km) of total area, with a land area greater than that of four other US states. It stretches 132 miles (212 km) from west to east and 103 miles (166 km) from north to south. Maricopa County is the largest county in the US to have a capital city, and it is Arizona's most populous county, with well over half of the state's residents.
Phoenix Sky Harbor is Arizona's largest and busiest airport and is among the largest commercial airports in the United States. In 2021, it was the 14th busiest airport in the US and the 33rd busiest in the world. The airport serves as a hub for several major airlines, including American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. The airport has undergone several expansions over the years, including the construction of new terminals, concourses, and runways. The airport is easily accessible by road, with East Sky Harbor Boulevard connecting to Interstate 10 and Arizona State Routes 143 and 202.
The airport's name, "Sky Harbor," was conceived by J. Parker Van Zandt, the owner of Scenic Airways, who purchased the land in 1928. Van Zandt founded, named, and built the airport, which was the fourth airport in Phoenix. Scenic Airways sold the airport to Acme Investment Company in 1929 due to financial difficulties after the Stock Market Crash. The city of Phoenix purchased Sky Harbor from Acme in 1935 for $100,000.
Maricopa County, where Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is located, has a rich political history. For much of the time after World War II, the county was one of the more conservative urban counties in the US. While Phoenix has historically leaned Republican, the rest of the county has often been more conservative. Maricopa County has been a bellwether, voting for the statewide winning presidential candidate in all elections except 1996. In recent years, the county's political leanings have shifted, with Joe Biden becoming the first Democrat in 72 years to win the county in 2020, signalling a change in Arizona's political landscape.
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The airport is served by the PHX Sky Train, an automated people-mover
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is indeed a large airport. It is Arizona's largest and busiest airport and was the 14th-busiest airport in the United States and 33rd-busiest in the world in 2021. The airport is served by the PHX Sky Train, an automated people mover.
The PHX Sky Train is an electric train that transports people between Valley Metro Rail at 44th and Washington streets, the East Economy Parking area, the airport terminals, the 24th Street PHX Sky Train Station, and the Rental Car Center. The train is free to the public and runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The average wait time for the train is between 3 to 7 minutes during the day and 7 to 15 minutes at night. The train replaced shuttle buses for transit within the airport property.
The initial segment of the PHX Sky Train opened on April 8, 2013, with the first extension to Terminal 3 opening on December 8, 2014. The second extension to the Rental Car Center opened on December 20, 2022. The train features a 100-foot-tall bridge over Taxiway R, one of three taxiways connecting the north and south runways. This bridge is a unique feature, as it is the first transit bridge in the world to be built over an active taxiway. The bridge is tall enough to allow for large aircraft, such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380, to pass under.
The system is designed to carry 3,300 passengers per hour in each direction, with an average speed of 23 miles per hour. The trainset is capable of reaching 38 miles per hour, making the journey time from 44th Street to Terminal 4 five minutes, plus an additional two minutes to reach Terminal 3. The PHX Sky Train has been well-utilised since its opening, with a cumulative ridership of 1 million in 2013 and 10 million in 2015.
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Terminal 4 is the largest and busiest terminal with 86 gates
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, ranking 14th busiest in the country and 33rd busiest in the world in 2021. The airport serves as a hub for American Airlines and a base for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
The airport is located 3 miles (4.8 km) east of downtown Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. It is accessible by road via East Sky Harbor Boulevard, Interstate 10, Arizona State Routes 143, and 202. The PHX Sky Train, which opened in 2013, provides transportation for passengers from the 44th Street and Washington Light Rail Station to the East Economy Parking Lot and Terminal 4.
Terminal 4, designed by DWL Architects + Planners, Inc., is the largest and busiest terminal at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. It has 86 gates, divided into seven satellite concourses connected behind security. The terminal is named after former Arizona Senator and 1964 Presidential candidate Barry M. Goldwater. Construction on Terminal 4 began in 1998 with the expansion of the north side, and the eighth and final concourse began construction in May 2019.
The south side of the terminal features the eight-gate S2 concourse, which was constructed between 2002 and 2004 for Southwest Airlines. This concourse has a distinct architectural design compared to the other six concourses. The airport continues to undergo development, with ongoing construction on Terminal 3 North 2 Concourse as of 2025.
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The airport was founded and built by J. Parker Van Zandt in 1928
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a large airport. It is Arizona's largest and busiest airport and was ranked 14th busiest in the US and 33rd busiest in the world in 2021. The airport serves as a hub for American Airlines and a base for Frontier and Southwest Airlines.
Scenic Airways owned the airport until 1935, when it was sold to Acme Investment Company due to a lack of funds following the 1929 stock market crash. In 1930, American Airlines began using Sky Harbor, and by February 1929, Maddux Air Lines had started the airport's first scheduled passenger service, with a route between San Francisco and El Paso, stopping in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and several other cities. However, this service ended by autumn 1929. Acme leased the airport to Maricopa County in 1934, but the county backed out of the deal a year later. The city of Phoenix eventually purchased Sky Harbor from Acme in 1935 for $100,000, following some resistance.
Over the years, the airport has undergone several expansions, including the construction of new terminals, concourses, and runways. In 1996, Sky Harbor landed its first transatlantic flights when British Airways inaugurated a nonstop service to London. The airport has also seen the introduction of various airlines, such as America West Airlines in 1983, Eastern Airlines and Allegheny Airlines in 1979, and United Airlines in 1980.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a large airport. It is Arizona's largest and busiest airport and was the 14th busiest airport in the US and 33rd busiest in the world in 2021.
Phoenix Sky Harbor has two terminals. Terminal 4 is the largest and busiest with 86 gates divided into seven satellite concourses connected behind security.
Sky Harbor Airport was founded and built by J. Parker Van Zandt, the owner of Scenic Airways, in late 1928. It was the fourth airport built in Phoenix. The airport was named after Van Zandt commenced building a 100 x 120-foot airplane hangar and a runway in 1929.
By road, the airport terminals are served by East Sky Harbor Boulevard, which is fed by Interstate 10, Arizona State Routes 143 and 202. The PHX Sky Train also transports passengers from the 44th Street and Washington Light Rail Station to the airport.
