AIRPORT HISTORY

Where is Terminal 1?

On July 16, 1935, the city of Phoenix became the owner of Sky Harbor Airport, nicknamed “The Farm” because of its isolated, rural location. For $100,000, the city purchased the airport’s 285 acres from the Acme Investment Company.

Phoenix Sky Harbor began emerging as one of the nation's major passenger airports in 1952 with the opening of Terminal 1. Built at a cost of $835,000, Terminal 1 was among the most modern and efficient passenger terminals of its time.

Airlines flying into Phoenix at that time included American, TWA, Frontier and Western. Typical airplanes were the DC-3, the DC-6 and the Super Constellation. Later Western Airlines flew Lockheed Electras into Phoenix and Bonanza Airlines, United and Delta Airlines began service.

The air traffic control tower, made of underground fuel storage tanks welded together, was the most distinguishing feature of Terminal 1. All the wiring was in a three and one-half-foot-wide pipe that ran up the center of the tower and a 129-step spiral staircase was the only access.

When Terminal 1 opened, 296,066 passengers were using Sky Harbor. In 1961, less than 10 years later, passenger usage tripled to 920,096. Terminals were added over the years to accommodate increasing traffic, and in 1990 Terminal 1 was demolished, but the other terminals were never renumbered.

Terminal 2

Terminal 2 opened in 1962, the year Sky Harbor surpassed the one million passenger mark. Constructed for $2.7 million, comprising 330,000 square feet and 19 gates, Terminal 2 was one of the nation's most modern facilities. A feature of Terminal 2 is the large mural in the lobby, a mosaic by the late Paul Coze called "The Phoenix," depicting the city’s history.

Terminal 3

With the opening of Terminal 2, Phoenix planners hoped to service airline traffic until the year 2000. But passenger usage tripled again in less than 10 years and when construction of the $35 million Terminal 3 and its $13 million parking garage began in 1976, 4.4 million people were flying in and out of the airport. After Terminal 3 opened in 1979, passenger traffic grew to 7 million.

Terminal 3 set new standards in air terminals, with 880,000 square-feet of space and 23 gates on two concourses. Airline ticket counters and baggage claim are on the ground level, while shops, restaurants and access to the gates are on the second. The six-level parking garage is accessible via elevators in the terminal. A remodeling project completed in 1997 renovated the second level lobby and concession area and added 11 new shops.

By the end of 1985, passenger traffic mushroomed to 11.6 million at Terminal 3. In July of 1986, the Phoenix City Council approved the most ambitious building project in Sky Harbor's history — the design and construction of a new terminal.

Terminal 4

Terminal 4 broke ground in October, 1989 and opened in November, 1990. At $248 million, Terminal 4 was the largest structural capital improvement project in Phoenix. Construction began on the terminal core and three concourses — two for use by what was then America West Airlines and one for international arrivals — but prior to completion, a route expansion by Southwest Airlines required that it too be located in Terminal 4. Two more concourses were added and the building opened in November, 1990 with five concourses and 48 gates.

Terminal 4, with 68 gates and 3.8 million square-feet of space, handled 15.4 million passengers or 70 percent of Sky Harbor's total traffic in 1991. In 1998, a sixth concourse was added and the international concourse was expanded to include more gates.

In March 2005, a new concourse opened in Terminal 4, providing gates D1 to D8 and a new checkpoint. The concourse, the seventh in this terminal, comprises an area of 180,000 square feet and is 140 feet wide—50 feet wider than the other concourses. Designed with a more modern look in mind, the new concourse includes a high roof, beams, clerestory windows and a Terrazzo floor. Terminal 4 was designed for expansion and ultimately will have eight concourses.

Arriving passengers are separated from departing passengers in Terminal 4 and its two-sided design allows for vehicle access from the east or west. Level 1, for arriving passengers, includes areas for baggage claim and ground transportation. Level 2, the departing passenger level, houses all ticket counters. Food/beverage concessions, shops and the entrances to all the concourses are on Level 3. Four levels of parking, some 3,400 spaces, top out the building.

Recent Airport Improvements

After an FAA capacity study recommended an additional runway in 1989, land acquisition and design development for construction of a third runway began. Runway construction started in 1997 and is now complete. Total costs for all projects incidental to and including the runway are estimated at $128 million.

In January 2006, rental car counters were relocated from the terminals to a newly constructed Rental Car Center just west of the airport. A new Air Traffic Control Tower and Terminal Radar Approach Control facility opened in January, 2007. Located on the east side of Terminal 3, the tower houses more than 100 FAA Air Traffic Controllers and staff. At 326 feet, the tower dwarfs its predecessor by 148 feet. The old tower, used since the 1970s, is being evaluated for future use or possible demolition.