City: Phoenix, AZ

Category: Getting Here, Getting Around

Telephone: (602) 273-3300

Address: 3400 Sky Harbor Blvd.

Description: Sky Harbor is known as “America’s Friendliest Airport” and as one of the top-10 busiest airports in the US. It accommodates 1,500 commercial flights and 100,000 commercial passengers a day for an estimated $90 million daily economic impact. Sky Harbor also serves general aviation, corporate, cargo, and military planes. The airport is seemingly always under construction. A new traffic tower, one of the largest at American airports, began operations in 2007. A state-of-the-art baggage screening system to speed people through security was also added in recent years. Free Wi-Fi service is available near the shops on either side of security checkpoints.The airport began operating in 1929, and in 1935 the city of Phoenix purchased the airport, which then stood on 300 acres. Terminal 1 opened October 13, 1952, and began Sky Harbor’s ascent to its current status. The airport handled 296,066 passengers in the first year Terminal 1 was open. In 1961 it served 920,096 passengers. Terminal 2 was built in 1962 for $2.7 million, just as Sky Harbor broke the 1-million-passenger-per-year mark. The city strove to make the terminal a lovely gateway to Phoenix and commissioned the late Paul Coze to create a three-panel mosaic mural, known as The Phoenix. It still greets passengers in Terminal 2 today. The passenger rate grew to 3 million in 1971, so planning began for the construction of Terminal 3, which opened in 1979. Growth continued, and the Phoenix City Council authorized construction of Terminal 4 in 1986. The $248-million terminal and 4-level parking garage opened in 1990, and Terminal 1 was closed. In 1991 Terminal 4 alone handled 15.4 million passengers, 70 percent of the airport’s traffic.There are more than 120 gates and about 30,000 parking spaces at the airport.The Valley’s 20-mile light rail line (opened in 2008) and the expected 2013 completion of the first phase of a $1.1 billion PHX Sky Train people-mover are expected to make it even easier to navigate the airport, which is generally regarded as one of the most efficient in the country.With passenger traffic at about 41 million annually and strict security measures, it’s a good idea to arrive at the airport about 2 hours before your flight is scheduled to leave. A free shuttle travels from economy parking to the terminals every 6 minutes.The airport is about 10 minutes from downtown Phoenix. It’s almost centrally located in the Valley and provides easy access to freeways. Keep in mind, however, that the roads around the airport can appear like a labyrinth to visitors. Have your smart phone, guidebook, or other directions ready. Here are the airlines that serve Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and their terminals: