
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the main airport in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is Arizona's largest and busiest airport, covering 3,400 acres at an elevation of 1,135 ft. The airport is located 3 miles east of downtown Phoenix and is owned and operated by the Phoenix Aviation Department. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport serves as a hub for several major airlines and features two terminals with numerous gates and concourses. The airport has a long history, with its first terminal opening in 1952 and undergoing various expansions and renovations over the years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport |
| Location | 3 miles (2.6 nmi; 4.8 km) east of downtown Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States |
| Owner/Operator | Phoenix Aviation Department |
| IATA | PHX |
| ICAO | KPHX |
| FAA LID | PHX |
| Size | 3,400 acres (14 km2) at an elevation of 1,135 ft (346 m) |
| Terminals | 4 |
| Gates | 92 |
| Runways | 3 concrete/grooved runways: Runway 8/26 (3,502 m × 46 m), Runway 7L/25R (3,139 m × 46 m), Runway 7R/25L (2,377 m × 46 m) |
| Airlines | American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Air France |
| Military | Home to the 161st Air Refueling Wing (161 ARW) of the Arizona Air National Guard |
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What You'll Learn
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the main airport in Phoenix, Arizona
- The airport is 3 miles east of downtown Phoenix, in Maricopa County
- It is Arizona's largest and busiest airport, with 86-92 gates
- Terminal 2 was decommissioned in February 2020 and replaced by concrete stands for aircraft
- Terminal 3 was renamed in honour of Senator John McCain

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the main airport in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the main airport serving Phoenix, Arizona. Located just 3 miles (4.8 km) east of downtown Phoenix, it is the largest and busiest airport in the state of Arizona. The airport is owned and operated by the Phoenix Aviation Department, alongside Phoenix Deer Valley Airport and Phoenix Goodyear Airport.
Sky Harbor is a civil-military public international airport, serving as a hub for American Airlines and a base for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines. The airport covers 3,400 acres (14 km2) and has three concrete runways, all capable of accommodating aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 900,000 lb (410,000 kg) or more. The airport's tallest structure is its 326-foot (99 m) air traffic control tower, which began operations in 2007.
The airport has two terminals, Terminal 3 and Terminal 4, with 25 and 92 gates respectively. Terminal 4, designed by DWL Architects + Planners, Inc., is the largest and busiest, serving international carriers such as American and Southwest. Terminal 2 was decommissioned in 2020, with airlines relocating to Terminal 3, which was renamed in 2021 after Senator John McCain.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport serves over 100 domestic and international destinations, offering convenient transportation options such as the PHX Sky Train. The airport is known as "America's Friendliest Airport" and has a range of amenities and conveniences for travellers.
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The airport is 3 miles east of downtown Phoenix, in Maricopa County
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (IATA: PHX, ICAO: KPHX, FAA LID: PHX) is located 3 miles (2.6 nmi; 4.8 km) east of downtown Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. It is Arizona's largest and busiest airport and is among the largest commercial airports in the country. The airport serves as a hub for American Airlines and a base for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines. It also serves over 100 domestic and international destinations.
The airport covers 3,400 acres (14 km2) at an elevation of 1,135 ft (346 m). It has three parallel concrete runways: Runway 8/26, measuring 11,489 ft × 150 ft (3,502 m × 46 m); Runway 7L/25R, measuring 10,300 ft × 150 ft (3,139 m × 46 m); and Runway 7R/25L, measuring 7,800 ft × 150 ft (2,377 m × 46 m). All three runways can accommodate aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 900,000 lb (410,000 kg) or more.
The airport has two terminals, with Terminal 4 being the largest and busiest. Terminal 4 has 86 gates, later expanded to 92, divided into seven satellite concourses connected behind security. Terminal 2 was decommissioned in February 2020, and the terminal was replaced by concrete stands for aircraft accessible by bus from other terminals. Terminal 3, renamed in honour of Senator John McCain, contains 25 gates and is used by Alaska Airlines for both arrivals and departures.
The Phoenix Aviation Department owns and operates Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, along with Phoenix Deer Valley Airport and Phoenix Goodyear Airport.
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It is Arizona's largest and busiest airport, with 86-92 gates
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is Arizona's largest and busiest airport. It is located 3 miles (or 4.8 km) east of downtown Phoenix, in Maricopa County. The airport is owned and operated by the Phoenix Aviation Department, alongside Phoenix Deer Valley Airport and Phoenix Goodyear Airport. Sky Harbor International Airport covers 3,400 acres (14 km2) and has three runways, all of which can accommodate aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 900,000 lb (410,000 kg) or more. The airport's elevation is 1,135 ft (346 m).
The airport is a hub for several major airlines, including American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. Terminal 4, designed by DWL Architects + Planners, Inc.., is the largest and busiest terminal with 86-92 gates. These gates are divided into seven satellite concourses connected behind security. Terminal 4 is named after former Arizona Senator and 1964 Presidential candidate Barry M. Goldwater. The terminal covers arrivals and departures for international carriers, including American and Southwest.
Terminal 3, named after Senator John McCain, contains 25 gates and is used by Alaska Airlines for both arrivals and departures. Terminal 2 was decommissioned in February 2020, with airlines relocating to Terminal 3. Terminal 1, originally called the West Wing, opened in October 1952 and featured Phoenix's first control tower. The airport's master plan was redesigned in 1959 to make room for new terminals, and jet service began in 1960 with American Airlines, followed by TWA in 1961.
The airport's infrastructure has undergone several expansions and upgrades over the years. In 1994, the N4 International Concourse added 10 gates and a walkway to the S4 concourse. The N1 concourse for America West Airlines was completed in 1998, and the S2 concourse for Southwest Airlines was finished in 2004. Construction on the eighth and final concourse for Terminal 4 began in May 2019, and the airport recently announced plans for further infrastructure upgrades to improve the airport's facilities.
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Terminal 2 was decommissioned in February 2020 and replaced by concrete stands for aircraft
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is Arizona's largest and busiest airport. It is located 3 miles (or 4.8 km) east of downtown Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. The airport is owned and operated by the Phoenix Aviation Department, which also runs Phoenix Deer Valley Airport and Phoenix Goodyear Airport.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport features in the list of 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 American Airlines and a base for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
Terminal 2 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport was decommissioned in February 2020. The terminal was originally called the East Wing and was designed by the Phoenix architectural firms of Weaver & Drover and Lescher & Mahoney. It opened in 1962 and featured a 16-foot-high and 75-foot-wide mural made from 52 different materials, including mosaic glass, gemstones, shells, and vintage toys. The mural, titled 'The Phoenix', was designed by the French-American artist Paul Coze, a full-time resident of Phoenix, and was the city's first work of public art.
After its decommissioning, Terminal 2 was demolished in early 2021 and replaced by concrete stands for aircraft. The airlines that previously used Terminal 2 were relocated to Terminal 3, which had recently undergone renovations. Terminal 3 was later renamed in honour of Senator John McCain by the Phoenix City Council in January 2021.
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Terminal 3 was renamed in honour of Senator John McCain
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is Arizona's largest and busiest airport. In January 2021, Terminal 3 of the airport was renamed in honour of Senator John McCain by the Phoenix City Council.
Senator John McCain was a prominent political figure in Arizona and across the United States. He served as a United States Senator from Arizona for over thirty years, from 1987 until his death in 2018. McCain was known for his maverick image, often advocating for bipartisan cooperation and compromise in the Senate. He ran for president twice, in 2000 and 2008, and was the Republican Party's nominee in the 2008 presidential election.
McCain had a long history of military service prior to his political career. He attended the United States Naval Academy and served in the United States Navy from 1958 to 1981, retiring with the rank of Captain. During the Vietnam War, McCain was a naval pilot and was famously shot down during a bombing mission over Hanoi in 1967. He was severely injured and captured by the North Vietnamese, spending five and a half years as a prisoner of war. McCain was tortured and held in solitary confinement but refused an early release unless every American captured before him was also released. His wartime experiences and subsequent refusal to break under pressure became central to his public image.
Renaming Terminal 3 in honour of Senator McCain recognises his contributions to the state of Arizona and the nation. McCain played a significant role in developing and supporting the airport, advocating for its expansion and improvement. The terminal's renaming serves as a tribute to his legacy and ensures that his name remains closely associated with the city of Phoenix.
The decision to rename the terminal was well-received by the public and honoured McCain's enduring impact on Arizona and its people.
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Frequently asked questions
The main airport in Phoenix is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
The airport is located 3 miles (4.8 km) east of downtown Phoenix.
The airport serves as a hub for American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Southwest Airlines.
The airport has four terminals and three runways.
The airport was opened in October 1952 with the first control tower in Terminal 1. It has since expanded with the addition of new terminals, concourses, and infrastructure upgrades.









































