Sky Harbor Airport is working toward a new terminal. First, they need to determine its environmental impact.
Construction on the new Sky Harbor terminal isn't set to start until after 2030. Construction on the new Sky Harbor terminal is set to begin after 2030, with the estimated cost of the project totalling more than 560 million dollars. The new terminal will be built near where former terminals one and two were located. This is the first new terminal construction since 1990. The project is part of Sky Harbor's plan to grow consistently and responsibly, while maintaining costs low. The environmental impact of this project will include air pollution, noise, and historic or cultural artifacts that might be affected. Once the project is completed, design and construction details are still in the works. The goal is to finish construction by about 2034 to 2035.
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Construction on the new Sky Harbor terminal isn't set to start until after 2030.
PHOENIX — About a month and a half has passed since Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego announced the City is planning to add a new terminal to Sky Harbor. Construction is not set to start until after 2030.
The new terminal is a massive project, set to be built at the airport’s west end. That's near where former terminals one and two were located. Jay Dewitt, Sky Harbor's Chief Development Officer, said it’s a big deal to add a new terminal to an airport.
This is the first new terminal construction since 1990, when terminal four opened. The project is expected to have a price tag of more than 560 million dollars. There will be gates on each side of the road into sky harbor and a sky train running down the middle.
Dewitt said the terminal is part of their plan to grow consistently and responsibly, while keeping costs low so airlines can continue making money and providing services. For Arizonans, that means more flights to more destinations. There’s also a large economic impact in keeping up with traveler demand.
“Arizona State University just finished its economic impact study recently and found that Sky Harbor provides more than $44 billion dollars of economic impact every year and provides 246,000 jobs," Dewitt said. "So as we add more gates, more terminal facilities, that number will go up and up and we'll provide the kind of economic impact the community asks of us.”
For the next five years, Sky Harbor Airport said they will enter the environmental impact portion of the project. It’s part of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, which Dewitt said requires the FAA to take a close look at the way big developments are created.
Sky Harbor said they'll analyze cultural, environmental and historical assets that could be impacted by this project, so they can make changes if needed. Some examples of things they’ll track are air pollution, noise and any historic or cultural artifacts that might be affected.
“This is an important project, a big project and we need to be sure that we do it right," Dewitt said. "So taking that time to invest and time with the community and get input from the community is important."
Once the environmental portion is completed, it’s on to design and construction. Design details are still in the works. Plans call for this terminal to be large enough for widebody planes, which are used on long-haul international flights. There would be a customs entrance for international flights too, the City of Phoenix said.
In 2023, sky harbor had their busiest year ever, with about 49 million people going through. Dewitt said if the terminal is not built, there would be increased congestion, missed flights and eventually terminals that cannot function. The last time a new terminal was built was in 1990, so this new construction will be a major addition to the Valley.
“Going from 1990 to 2024, it’s been a long time since we’ve opened a new terminal," Dewitt said. "We built our terminals in ways that they're modular. We can add a concourse and some gates as needed, but we’ve finally filled up terminal 3 and terminal 4. We can’t add anymore gates to them. So this is a big deal.”
The goal is to finish construction by about 2034 to 2035. Phoenix said the new terminal will be paid for with passenger facility charges, bonds and airport funding. No tax dollars will be used, and travelers will not see an increase in airport costs.