Lois Larson
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is America's Friendliest Airport, with an annual economic impact of over $44 billion. The airport has been serving passengers since 1929 and has seen significant growth and changes over the years. With a recent record of 50 million passengers in a single calendar year, the airport has announced plans to build a new terminal to accommodate growing demand. This airport has also been recognised for its food and beverage and hospitality offerings, winning a FAB 2024 award.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport |
| Owner | Phoenix Aviation Department |
| Number of Aircraft Arriving and Departing Daily | 1,000+ |
| Number of Passengers Arriving and Departing Daily | 130,000+ |
| Annual Economic Impact | $44 billion+ |
| Year of First Scheduled Passenger Service | 1929 |
| Year of First Transatlantic Flight | 1996 |
| Year Terminal 2 was Decommissioned | 2020 |
| Year Terminal 3 was Renamed in Honor of Senator John McCain | 2021 |
| Year a New Terminal was Announced | 2024 |
| Number of Passengers in 2023 | 48 million+ |
| Number of Passengers in 2024 | 50 million+ |
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What You'll Learn
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is one of three airports in Phoenix, Arizona
- The airport is recognised as one of the top 10 airports in America
- The airport has received federal funding for infrastructure upgrades and improvements
- The airport has a rich history, with several airlines operating since the 1920s
- Terminal 2 was decommissioned in 2020, and a new terminal is planned for the west end
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is one of three airports in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is America's Friendliest Airport. It has an annual economic impact of more than $44 billion and serves over 130,000 passengers daily. In 2023, the airport welcomed more than 48 million passengers, surpassing 50 million passengers in 2024, an all-time record. To accommodate this growing demand, a new terminal is being constructed on the west end of the property near the former location of Terminal 2. The new terminal will feature a customs facility and be designed with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in mind.
The airport has undergone several expansions and upgrades over the years. Terminal 2 was decommissioned in February 2020, with airlines relocating to Terminal 3, which was renamed in honour of Senator John McCain. Terminal 4, named after former Arizona Senator and 1964 Presidential candidate Barry M. Goldwater, has seen various improvements, including the addition of the N4 International Concourse in 1994 and the construction of the N1 concourse for America West Airlines in 1997-1998. The eighth and final concourse for Terminal 4 began construction in May 2019.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has also received recognition for its growth and customer experience. International flights pushed the airport to record growth in June 2024, and it was included in several lists of the best airports in America. The airport has also received federal funding for improvement projects, including a $36 million investment announced in July 2024 by Arizona Senators and a $66 million grant for metro Phoenix airports.
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The airport is recognised as one of the top 10 airports in America
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has been recognised as one of the top 10 airports in America, and for good reason.
The airport has an impressive annual economic impact of more than $44 billion, and on a typical day, over 1,000 aircraft and 130,000 passengers arrive and depart. It is a hub for American Airlines and a major base for Southwest Airlines, with reliable service and close proximity to the city centre.
Sky Harbor has been praised for its efficient operations, with travellers rarely needing to worry about flight delays and cancellations. In fact, in the AirHelp annual global airport ranking for 2024, Phoenix Sky Harbor was ranked as the 7th best airport in the US and 21st in the world, based on its on-time performance. The airport also ranked 10th in the US for the least flight disruptions in another AirHelp ranking.
The airport's accessibility and convenience are further enhanced by its range of services and amenities. It offers a complete range of services, including aviation fuel, avionics, maintenance, parts, flight training, and aircraft sales. The airport also boasts a solid lineup of airlines and flights, with 127 nonstop destinations. While it currently has only a few long-haul international routes, the airport is working to attract more.
In addition to its efficient operations and convenient services, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is also known for its friendly staff, who have been recognised for enhancing the traveller experience.
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The airport has received federal funding for infrastructure upgrades and improvements
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has received federal funding for infrastructure upgrades and improvements. The airport, which is owned by the city of Phoenix, is Arizona's largest airport and has seen record-setting passenger demand.
In February 2024, the airport received a $36 million federal grant from the Airport Terminals Program, created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding was allocated to modernise the aging cooling system at Terminal 4, which serves as the heart of the terminal's cooling system. Specifically, the grant will be used to replace outdated equipment at the 35-year-old Central Utility Plant, including new chillers, condensing water pumps, central plant piping, heat exchangers, and cooling towers.
In July 2024, it was announced that Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport would receive an additional $66.7 million from the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Infrastructure Grants program. This funding is intended for site demolition and preparation work to facilitate the construction of a new taxiway connecting the north and south airfields from the west side of the terminals. This west crossover taxiway is expected to enhance aircraft and passenger movement, thereby improving airfield circulation and reducing delays.
The airport has also benefited from Airport Terminal Program grants, with a portion of the $289 million in infrastructure upgrades funded by the FAA across 129 airports nationwide. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is committed to enhancing the travel experience for its passengers and ensuring that its facilities are modern and energy-efficient. These federal grants play a crucial role in achieving these goals and maintaining its status as America's Friendliest Airport.
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The airport has a rich history, with several airlines operating since the 1920s
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has a long and fascinating history, with the city's aviation story beginning in the 1920s. The airport was founded and built by J. Parker Van Zandt, owner of Scenic Airways, in 1928. Van Zandt purchased 278 acres of farmland for Scenic's winter operations and named the airport Sky Harbor. The airport was the fourth to be built in Phoenix.
Standard Air Lines had been serving Phoenix since 1927, landing at a different airport, but began operating at Sky Harbor in 1929. The airline was acquired by American Airways (later American Airlines) in 1930, and extended its route to New York, creating a transcontinental route across the United States.
In 1929, Maddux Air Lines began Sky Harbor's first scheduled passenger service, operating a route between San Francisco and El Paso, stopping in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and several other cities. However, this service ended in autumn 1929. Scenic Airways suffered financially after the 1929 stock market crash and was forced to sell the airport to the Acme Investment Company, which owned it until 1935. During its early years, the airport was so isolated that residents nicknamed it "The Farm".
In 1935, the City of Phoenix purchased the airport from Acme for $100,000. Following this, the airport began to grow, becoming a major southern hub for the United States. TWA began serving Phoenix in 1938, and by 1944, the airline had added Phoenix to its transcontinental network, with flights to Los Angeles and New York. Arizona Airways began intrastate service in 1946, and in 1948, Sky Harbor was declared the busiest airport in the United States.
Today, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is Arizona's largest and busiest airport, serving as a hub for American Airlines and a base for Southwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines. The airport handles more than 1,200 flights per day, with over 1,000 aircraft and 130,000 passengers arriving and departing on a typical day.
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Terminal 2 was decommissioned in 2020, and a new terminal is planned for the west end
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is one of three airports owned and operated by the Phoenix Aviation Department, the other two being Phoenix Deer Valley Airport and Phoenix Goodyear Airport. Sky Harbor is the only one of the three that offers commercial passenger flights, with more than 1,000 aircraft and 130,000 passengers arriving and departing on a typical day.
Terminal 2 at Phoenix Sky Harbor was decommissioned in February 2020 and demolished in early 2021. The airlines that previously operated out of Terminal 2 were relocated to Terminal 3, which had recently been renovated. Terminal 2 was ultimately replaced by concrete stands for aircraft, accessible by bus from the remaining terminals.
In April 2024, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego announced plans to construct a new terminal on the west end of the property, near the former location of Terminal 2. The new terminal is intended to accommodate the airport's growing number of passengers, which surpassed 50 million in 2024, up from 48 million in 2023. The new terminal will feature a customs facility and will be designed to have net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Phoenix Sky Harbor has undergone numerous expansions and upgrades over the years. Terminal 4, named after former Arizona Senator and 1964 presidential candidate Barry M. Goldwater, has seen several concourse additions since the 1990s. The airport has also received various grants and investments for infrastructure improvements, including a $36 million grant from the FAA Airport Terminal Program in 2024.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport served over 48 million passengers in 2023 and surpassed 50 million passengers in 2024, setting a new record.
Maddux Air Lines began the airport's first scheduled passenger service in 1929. Terminal 2 was decommissioned in 2020, and the airport landed its first transatlantic flights in 1996.
In February 2024, the airport announced plans for infrastructure upgrades at its central utility plant in Terminal 4, improving the air conditioning. A new terminal will also be constructed on the west end of the property to accommodate growing demand and incorporate environmentally friendly design.
The airport offers a range of dining options, including restaurants in Terminal 4.
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