Lois Larson
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, located 3 miles east of downtown Phoenix, is Arizona's largest and busiest airport. The airport was founded and built by J. Parker Van Zandt, the owner of Scenic Airways, in late 1928. Van Zandt purchased 278 acres of farmland for his airline's winter operations and immediately began constructing a hangar and runway. The airport officially became known as Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport in February 1929 and the first scheduled passenger service began that same year. Since then, the airport has undergone numerous expansions and renovations, including the addition of multiple terminals and runways. Today, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport serves as a hub for several major airlines and handles a large volume of passenger traffic, with more than 130,000 passengers arriving and departing daily.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport |
| Location | Maricopa County, Arizona, United States |
| Year founded | 1928 |
| Year opened | 1929 |
| Owner | City of Phoenix |
| Elevation | 1,135 ft (346 m) |
| Area | 3,400 acres (14 km2) |
| Number of runways | 3 |
| Number of terminals | 4 |
| Number of passengers | >130,000 daily |
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What You'll Learn
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport was founded and built in 1928 by J. Parker Van Zandt
- Terminal 1, the airport's first modern terminal, opened in October 1952
- Terminal 2 opened in 1962, costing $2.7 million to build
- Terminal 3 opened in 1979, setting new standards for air terminals
- Terminal 4, the airport's busiest terminal, opened in 1990
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport was founded and built in 1928 by J. Parker Van Zandt
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, located 3 miles (4.8 km) east of downtown Phoenix, Arizona, is the state's largest and busiest airport. It is also among the largest commercial airports in the United States, serving more than 130,000 passengers daily. The airport was founded and built in 1928 by J. Parker Van Zandt, the owner of Scenic Airways.
Van Zandt arrived in Phoenix in 1928 and purchased 278 acres of farmland for Scenic Airways' winter operations. He named the airport Sky Harbor and immediately began construction on an airplane hangar, completing one runway by early 1929. Maddux Air Lines operated the airport's first scheduled passenger service, with a route between San Francisco and El Paso, stopping in Phoenix. This service began on February 23, 1929, but it was short-lived, ending by autumn of that year. Scenic Airways sold the airport to Acme Investment Company after the 1929 stock market crash, and the city of Phoenix purchased the airport from Acme for $100,000 in 1935.
Over the years, the airport has undergone significant expansion and development. Terminal 1 (originally called the West Wing), which included the airport's first control tower, opened in October 1952. Terminal 2 (originally the East Wing) opened in 1962, featuring a prominent Phoenix mural by artist Paul Coze. By the early 1960s, passenger usage had surpassed one million, and Terminal 3 became a necessity. Terminal 3, which set new standards for air terminals, opened in 1979, with a $13 million parking garage.
Terminal 4, which opened in November 1990, was the largest structural capital improvement project in Phoenix, costing $248 million. With 44 gates and 3.9 million square feet of space, it handled 70% of Sky Harbor's total traffic in 1991. The airport continues to undergo modernisation projects, with Terminal 2 closing in 2020 and a new unnamed terminal announced in May 2024, expected to be built by 2030.
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Terminal 1, the airport's first modern terminal, opened in October 1952
Terminal 1 of the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the airport's first modern terminal, opened in October 1952. The terminal was built at a cost of $835,000 and was originally called the West Wing. It was the first terminal to have a control tower.
Terminal 1 was built after World War II, during a time when airline passengers would dress up for the occasion, walk off flights, and onto the tarmac. The terminal was designed to be boomerang-shaped and was located just east of 24th Street. At the time, airlines such as Western, Frontier, and TWA delivered passengers to the airport aboard Douglas DC-3 and DC-6 propeller aircraft. TWA also operated the four-engine Lockheed Constellation, known as "Connie", which provided long-distance transcontinental travel.
The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport was founded and built by J. Parker Van Zandt, the owner of Scenic Airways, in late 1928. Van Zandt purchased 278 acres of farmland for Scenic's winter operations in November 1928 and immediately began constructing a 100 x 120-foot airplane hangar. Throughout early 1929, he built one runway, and on February 23, 1929, Maddux Air Lines began the airport's first scheduled passenger service. Scenic Airways, however, lacked funds after the 1929 Stock Market Crash and sold the airport to Acme Investment Company, which owned the airport until 1935, when the City of Phoenix purchased it for $100,000.
Over the years, the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has undergone frequent expansion to accommodate the growing air traffic. Terminal 2 opened in 1962, followed by Terminal 3 in 1979, and Terminal 4 in 1990. Terminal 1 was demolished in 1991 to make room for a parking facility, and the airport now sits in the top 30 busiest airports in America.
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Terminal 2 opened in 1962, costing $2.7 million to build
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, located 3 miles east of downtown Phoenix, Arizona, is one of the largest and busiest airports in the United States. The airport has a rich history that dates back to the late 1920s.
In 1928, J. Parker Van Zandt, owner of Scenic Airways, purchased 278 acres of farmland for Scenic's winter operations. Van Zandt founded and built Sky Harbor, constructing an airplane hangar and a runway by early 1929. Scenic Airways operated the first scheduled passenger service at the airport, with Maddux Air Lines offering a route between San Francisco and El Paso, stopping in Phoenix.
Over the years, Sky Harbor Airport changed ownership several times. In 1935, the city of Phoenix purchased the airport from the Acme Investment Company, which had acquired it after Scenic Airways faced financial difficulties following the 1929 stock market crash.
The airport continued to expand and develop, with Terminal 1, originally called the West Wing, opening in October 1952. This terminal, costing $835,000, also featured the airport's first control tower.
As air travel demand increased, the airport required additional capacity. Terminal 2, originally called the East Wing, was constructed for $2.7 million and opened in 1962. This new terminal added significant capacity, covering 330,000 square feet and featuring 19 gates. It was designed by prominent Phoenix architectural firms and included a 75-foot-wide Phoenix mural by Paul Coze, depicting the city's past, present, and future.
The opening of Terminal 2 marked a significant milestone in the airport's history, accommodating the growing passenger traffic and solidifying Sky Harbor as one of the nation's most modern aviation facilities at the time.
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Terminal 3 opened in 1979, setting new standards for air terminals
Terminal 3 of the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, located 3 miles east of downtown Phoenix, Arizona, opened in 1979, setting new standards for air terminals. The terminal, which cost $35 million to build, boasts an impressive 880,000 square feet of space and features 23 gates across two concourses. The design is efficient and functional, with airline ticket counters and baggage claim services located on the ground level, while the second level offers a range of shops and restaurants with convenient access to the gates. The terminal also includes a six-level parking garage, which is easily accessible via elevators, providing added convenience for travellers.
The opening of Terminal 3 had a significant impact on passenger traffic at the airport. Prior to its opening, the annual passenger volume at the airport was 4.4 million. However, in the first year after Terminal 3 opened, passenger traffic increased to 7 million, showcasing the terminal's ability to accommodate a higher volume of travellers. By the end of 1985, this number had further surged to 11.6 million, highlighting the success of Terminal 3 in attracting and managing a growing number of passengers.
Over the years, Terminal 3 has continued to serve passengers with state-of-the-art facilities and services, undergoing periodic renovations to maintain its modern standards. In 1997, a remodelling project was completed, which renovated the second-level lobby and concession area, and also added 11 new shops, enhancing the overall traveller experience. Terminal 3 remains a vital part of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which, as of 2021, is ranked as the 14th busiest airport in the United States and 33rd busiest worldwide.
The airport's history dates back to the late 1920s when J. Parker Van Zandt, owner of Scenic Airways, purchased farmland for Scenic's winter operations. Van Zandt named the airport "Sky Harbor" and began construction in 1928, completing a runway by early 1929. Scenic Airways operated the airport until financial difficulties after the 1929 stock market crash forced them to sell it to the Acme Investment Company. The airport changed hands again in 1935 when it was purchased by the city of Phoenix, and it has continued to evolve and expand over the decades, solidifying its place as Arizona's largest and busiest airport.
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Terminal 4, the airport's busiest terminal, opened in 1990
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, located 3 miles (4.8 km) east of downtown Phoenix, is Arizona's largest and busiest airport. It was founded and built by J. Parker Van Zandt, owner of Scenic Airways, in late 1928.
In July 1986, the Phoenix City Council approved the design and construction of a giant new terminal building, Terminal 4, which broke ground in October 1989 and opened in November 1990. Terminal 4 was the largest structural capital improvement project in Phoenix, costing $248 million. The terminal was designed with a two-sided structure, allowing vehicle access from both the east and west.
The building initially opened with five concourses and 44 gates, handling 15.4 million passengers or 70% of Sky Harbor's total traffic in 1991. Today, Terminal 4 has 92 to 94 gates and 3.9 million square feet of space. The terminal's efficiency is enhanced by its separation of arriving and departing passengers. Level 1, for arrivals, includes areas for baggage claim and ground transportation, while Level 2, for departures, houses all ticket counters. Food, beverage concessions, shops, and the entrances to all the concourses are located on Level 3.
Terminal 4 has undergone several expansions and improvements since its opening. In 1994, the N4 International Concourse was added, providing 10 additional gates and a sterile walkway to the S4 concourse. From 1997 to 1998, the 14-gate N1 concourse was constructed for America West Airlines at a cost of $50 million, completing the expansion of the terminal's north side. In 2002, construction began on the south side with the eight-gate S2 concourse for Southwest Airlines, which was completed in 2004 with a unique architectural design. The eighth and final concourse for Terminal 4 began construction in May 2019.
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Frequently asked questions
Sky Harbor Airport, or Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, was founded and built in late 1928 by J. Parker Van Zandt, owner of Scenic Airways.
Terminal 1 (originally called the West Wing), which opened in October 1952, was the airport's first terminal.
By February 1929, the airport was officially titled Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. However, the name was conceived in November 1928 when Van Zandt purchased the land.
Sky Harbor Airport landed its first transatlantic flight in 1996 when British Airways began a nonstop service to London.
Sky Harbor Airport serves more than 130,000 passengers daily, making it one of the busiest airports in the world.
