PHX Airport Travel Guide – Terminals, Flights & Passenger Tips

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, also known as PHX, is the busiest and largest airport in the State of Arizona and one of the most significant air travel centers in the United States. Sky Harbor, which is only 3 miles east of downtown Phoenix, serves millions of passengers annually with their destinations within the U.S. and the world.

Phoenix Sky Harbor is referred to as the Friendliest Airport in America, which integrates convenience, innovative design, and global services to ensure that all people find it easier to travel.

Key Airport Facts

• Airport Codes: IATA- PHX, ICAO- KPHX, FAA LID- PHX

• Type: Public / Military

• Owned by: City of Phoenix

• Opened: 1928

• Elevation: 1,135 ft (348 m)

• Place of business: Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

• Hub for: American Airlines

• Operating Base of: Frontier Airlines and Southwest airlines

Distance of PHX to Major Airports in Phoenix

The below table represents the estimated distance and time from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to the other airports in Phoenix: 

History of Phoenix Sky Harbor

Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) started in 1928 when an aviation pioneer, J. Parker Van Zandt, constructed the airport on 278 acres of farmland. It was named Sky Harbor because it was meant to be a haven for air travelers, and this vision remains true even after almost a century.

During the initial years, Phoenix was introduced in the national air transport system by airlines such as Maddux Air Lines, Standard Air Lines, and TWA. By the 1940s and 1950s, Sky Harbor was a hub of aircraft of American Airlines, Bonanza Air Lines and Western Airlines.

Sky Harbor expanded at a very fast rate after the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, which saw the introduction of new airlines such as Southwest Airlines and America West Airlines. The airport grew over the decades to accommodate millions of passengers and became a key hub of the American Airlines following its merger with US Airways in 2015.

When British Airways began nonstop flights to London in 1996, Sky Harbor made history again as it was the first transatlantic flight the airport had ever had. And in 2025, China Airlines and Starlux Airlines announced the introduction of new nonstop flights to Taipei, the first ever direct service to Asia.

Terminals at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) 

(Source - PHX Airport)

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) has two terminals namely Terminal 3 and Terminal 4. They are both modern, comfortable, and linked together through the free PHX Sky Train. Terminal 4 serves all international flights whereas Terminal 3 serves most domestic flights.

Terminal 3

Terminal 3 is smaller and very modernized, which makes it a comfortable place to travel. It serves airlines such as Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. The terminal is well furnished, has bright interiors, good food and modern traveler facilities.

In case you have to move between Terminal 3 and Terminal 4, you have to get out of the secure zone and use the free PHX Sky Train that operates 24 hours a day. The train links all terminals as well as the rental car center; hence, it is fast and convenient to move around the airport.

Terminal 4

The bigger and busier terminal at Phoenix Sky Harbor is terminal 4. Most airlines, including American Airlines and some of the international airlines like British Airways, Condor and WestJet, use it. The flights of American Airlines are primarily found in the A and B gates.

The B gates are used in all international arrivals and departures, between B23 and B28. International passengers will have to pass through U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Terminal 4, even when they are transferring to another domestic flight. 

The terminal is easy to move around and the passengers do not need to reenter the security area in order to walk between the A, B, C, and D gates. This renders the process of linking flights in Terminal 4 quick and convenient.

Facilities And Services

Phoenix Sky Harbor is on a 3,400-acre land and has three parallel runways that are quite long and can accommodate the largest aircraft in the world:

• Runway 8/26 – 11,489 ft

• Runway 7L/25R – 10,300 ft

• Runway 7R/25L – 7,800 ft

The control tower of the airport (326 feet) is one of the tallest towers in North America and it commenced its operation in 2007.

Visitors may visit the Phoenix Airport Museum, which is found in the terminals and displays the history of aviation and local art. The airport also has USO lounges, comfortable waiting bays, shops, food, and easy access to rental cars and public transportation.

The Sky Harbor has a military presence with the 161st Air Refueling Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard based at the Goldwater Air National Guard Base flying KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft.

Phoenix Sky Harbor in Numbers (2024)

• Aircraft operations: 485,745

• Passengers handled: 52.3 million

• Cargo moved: 339,148 tons

These statistics demonstrate why Phoenix Sky Harbor is not only an airport; it is the heartbeat of the Arizona air travel network.

New Upgrades and Green Initiatives.

In 2024, the airport was awarded a federal grant of 36 million dollars in order to renovate air conditioning and infrastructure at Terminal 4 under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The upgrades will guarantee increased energy efficiency and passenger comfort particularly in the hot summers of Phoenix.

The next terminal project planned by Sky Harbor in 2024 will be also devoted to the topic of sustainability, which will reflect the interest of Phoenix in the environmentally responsible aviation.

Accessibility and Transportation

Access to and from the airport is convenient. PHX, which is only a few feet off of Interstate 10 has a variety of parking and rental car facilities and has easy access to the Valley Metro Rail via the PHX Sky Train, which is a free, automated train that connects terminals, parking and the rental car facility.

Conclusion

Be it traveling to the business world, going on vacation, or a connection between the world, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) makes the trip easy, efficient, and friendly. With almost 100 years of service, more international flights, and friendly eco-development, Sky Harbor can indeed be considered, as its name suggests, a harbor in the sky for the passengers of the entire world.