Spring Training, Spring Break, and many Arizona events mean the Airport is busy each March, but recent passenger numbers from this March show that Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport broke its previous all-time high passenger record. March 2019 saw 4.5 million passengers traveling through America’s Friendliest Airport®, and the numbers were 3.3 percent higher than last year’s previous record-breaking numbers. For the first three months of 2019, passenger traffic was also up 3 percent compared to 2018.
“These numbers show the continued demand for travel to and from our state,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “It’s crucial with the increased passenger demand that we continue to provide world-class facilities and service to our customers. The capital investment program currently underway at Sky Harbor would allow us to accommodate much-needed future capacity.”
Each day, about 120,000 travelers come through America’s Friendliest Airport®. This past March, nearly 146,000 passengers visited each day. The Airport is currently in the midst of a robust capital investment program to enhance the Airport’s facilities and prepare for future growth. These projects include the last component of the Terminal 3 Modernization Program, a renovated North Concourse to open in 2020. Like the South Concourse which opened earlier this year, the North Concourse will feature new local and nationally-recognized shops and restaurants and customer amenities like access to more power outlets.
Another eagerly-anticipated project currently underway includes the extension of the PHX Sky Train® to the Rental Car Center. The 2.5-mile extension, which will be complete in early 2022, will provide a seamless transition between the Airport’s terminals and the Rental Car facility as well as reduce roadway congestion.
Terminal 4, which over the past two years recently opened all new shops, is also getting an upgrade with the addition of an eight-gate concourse. The eighth concourse, slated to open in 2022, will be home to Southwest Airlines and will include new shops, restaurants, and additional customer amenities.
It is critical that the Airport plan for future passenger demand. Sky Harbor currently has a Comprehensive Asset Management Plan underway. This is the creation of a 20-year plan for airport facilities, infrastructure and land development to accommodate future needs.
Additionally, Phoenix Sky Harbor continues to bring new and increased air service to Phoenix. In March, American Airlines launched their first-ever nonstop service to Europe from Phoenix with a daily flight to London Heathrow Airport. Though initially announced as seasonal service, strong demand after the announcement prompted the airline to make the service year-round. Condor Airlines, which also offers nonstop service to Frankfurt, Germany, has returned this year and extended their seasonal service, also due to strong demand from the Phoenix market. Both American and Condor’s service as well as British Airways’ daily nonstop service, provide travelers with a time-effective way to get to Europe for business or leisure. The Airport also continues to offer nonstop service to more than 100 domestic destinations as well as service to many cities in Canada and Mexico, and seasonal service to Costa Rica.
For more information on Sky Harbor’s future development projects, please visit https://www.skyharbor.com/about/development
