Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has named American Airlines as the primary carrier for its planned West Terminal, alongside the launch of Destination PHX 2050, a development programme intended to guide the airport’s capital investment as it prepares for an anticipated 90 million passengers a year by 2050. The West Terminal will be built on the airport’s west side and will be the first new terminal construction since Terminal 4 opened in 1990; it is intended to become the airport’s front door for growing international traffic and will be designed to accommodate additional wide-body aircraft. “Phoenix Sky Harbor is a powerful economic engine for our state, and it’s the gateway for business opportunity and tourism,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “The West Terminal is a game-changing investment in our economic future, and will help us continue to welcome travelers with best-in-class service, set a new standard for the passenger experience, and meet the needs of our growing community.”

American Airlines already carries more than 40 percent of Sky Harbor’s total passenger traffic, more than 20 million customers a year, and employs 8,000 people across Arizona. “Phoenix is a critical part of American’s network and we’re excited to continue to invest in the airport and this region’s future,” said American Airlines chief executive Robert Isom. The airline’s selection followed what the airport describes as months of research into operational needs and fiscal responsibility. “After completing months of careful analysis, the Aviation Department selected American Airlines as the anchor tenant for this new West Terminal,” said Aviation Director Chad Makovsky, adding that Sky Harbor intends to keep working with American and all its carriers to deliver facilities that are “thoughtful, affordable, and operationally efficient.”

TIMELINE AND OTHER INVESTMENT

Design and gate details are still being worked out; a design procurement process is expected in 2027, with construction potentially starting in late 2029 and the terminal opening in late 2033. The project will be funded through passenger facility charges, bonds and airport funding, with no local tax dollars involved. On 4 November, Sky Harbor will hold a West Terminal Industry Day to brief industry on the programme’s scope, packaging and procurement approach, including opportunities for small businesses. Alongside the future terminal, the airport is spending hundreds of millions of dollars upgrading the 36-year-old Terminal 4, which currently handles more than 75 percent of Sky Harbor’s passengers, covering concessions, the central plant, baggage handling, moving walkways, plumbing and electrical systems; other current projects include Taxiway U on the airport’s west side and a new six-gate concourse on Terminal 3’s north side. Sky Harbor, which receives no tax dollar funding and relies entirely on airport revenue, says it has an annual economic impact of more than 44 billion dollars, with around 1,300 aircraft and more than 140,000 passengers moving through the airport on an average day.