Phoenix, AZ – The 2005 year-end travel numbers for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport are in. The airport served more than 41.2 million passengers in 2005, setting a record for the third year in a row. This is the first time that Sky Harbor has surpassed the 40 million passenger mark. Spring and summer were the busiest seasons, with March and July nearly tied as the busiest months. Sky Harbor served nearly 3.8 million passengers in March and more than 3.7 million in July.
“Sky Harbor is an integral part of a vibrant economy in the growing Phoenix metropolitan area,” said Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. “As we serve record numbers of passengers, it is important that we continue to upgrade our facilities in order to provide world class customer service well into the future.”
In January, Sky Harbor opened a brand new Rental Car Center, which streamlines the process for customers, reduces confusion on the airport curbs and eases traffic congestion on the roadways. The airport is currently improving taxiways, adding checkpoint lanes, and renovating its busiest terminal. Dozens of new shops and restaurants have already opened in Terminal 4, which handles 75% of Sky Harbor’s passenger traffic. The airport is also remodeling the lobby of Terminal 2.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has just released a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will allow Sky Harbor to construct modern, new terminal facilities. While the airfield at Sky Harbor is adequate for the next 15-20 years, the terminal facilities will not effectively accommodate the expected 50-60 million passengers. The EIS is a critical step in moving forward to deliver excellent customer service in the years ahead.
In addition to improving facilities at Sky Harbor, Phoenix is looking to Williams Gateway Airport in the east Valley as a future reliever. “Even though Sky Harbor has capacity to handle additional passengers into the future, we believe the region will be best served in the long run if both airports are providing passenger service,” said Krietor.
The record numbers do not come as a surprise given that demand for air travel to and from Sky Harbor continues to increase year after year. Sky Harbor’s 41.2 million passenger count for 2005 was a 4.3% increase over 2004, when the airport served 39.5 million passengers.
