Phoenix Sky Harbor Is Americas Best Airport and Its Turning 90

Record Passengers and First Asia Flights

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has had quite a run lately.

The Wall Street Journal named it the best large airport in America twice, it just served more passengers than any year in its history, and in December 2025 it finally got something travelers had been asking for: nonstop flights to Asia.

The airport is also celebrating 90 years since the City of Phoenix bought a dusty airfield for $100,000 and turned it into one of the busiest hubs in the country.

What started as a remote strip nicknamed “The Farm” now generates $44 billion a year for Arizona’s economy, and the upgrades keep coming.

Wall Street Journal Picks PHX Twice

The Wall Street Journal ranked Phoenix Sky Harbor as the best large airport in America in both 2019 and 2023.

The airport scored high on reliability because of Phoenix’s mild weather, which means fewer cancellations and delays.

Planes taxi out to the runway in under 15 minutes on average, faster than almost any other major airport. Additionally, it operates on just three runways.

Record 52 Million Passengers in 2024

Sky Harbor served 52.3 million passengers in 2024, a 7.5 percent jump from the previous year and the first time the airport crossed the 50 million mark.

Major events like the NCAA Final Four and the WNBA All-Star Game brought extra visitors to Phoenix. Air France launched nonstop service to Paris, and Porter Airlines started daily flights to Toronto.

The growth continued into 2025, though at a slower pace, with January numbers up about 1.5 percent from the year before.

Phoenix Paid $100,000 in 1935

The City of Phoenix bought Sky Harbor Airport in 1935 for $100,000 after American Airlines threatened to end service if the city did not take over.

Back then, locals called the remote airfield “The Farm” because it sat so far from downtown. The airport was only the second in the nation to have a lighted runway.

By 1952, Phoenix built its first modern terminal for $853,000, and in 1959, the first jet airliner landed when an American Airlines Boeing 707 touched down.

First Nonstop Asia Flight Lands December 2025

China Airlines launched the first-ever nonstop flight between Phoenix and Asia on December 3, 2025.

The route connects Sky Harbor to Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport three times a week on an Airbus A350-900 carrying 306 passengers.

The 15-hour flight fills a gap travelers had requested for years.

STARLUX Airlines announced plans to start its own Phoenix-Taipei service in early 2026 through a partnership with American Airlines.

TSMC Brings Taiwan Travelers to Phoenix

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s massive investment in Phoenix helped create demand for the new Asia routes.

TSMC has committed $165 billion to build chip factories in north Phoenix, and the number of travelers between Taiwan and Phoenix increased fivefold in five years.

City officials estimate the new flight will generate $100 million in economic impact annually. Phoenix international flights overall add more than $3 billion to the local economy each year.

Waymo Rides Available at Terminals 24/7

Phoenix Sky Harbor became the first airport in the world to offer fully autonomous Waymo rides in December 2022.

The service started at the 44th Street Sky Train station and expanded in August 2024 to include 24/7 curbside pickups at Terminals 3 and 4.

The electric Jaguar vehicles have completed more than 100,000 trips to and from the airport. Riders can hail a Waymo through the app just like any other rideshare service.

Culture Corner Opens in Terminal 3

Sky Harbor launched a new Culture Corner in Terminal 3 in January 2025 as part of its 90th anniversary celebration.

The space near Gate F3 hosts monthly live art demonstrations, craft activities, and performances showcasing Arizona’s diverse communities.

The Phoenix Sister Cities Taipei Committee kicked off the program with calligraphy and paper-folding demonstrations. A Black History Month event in February featured drummers, spoken word artists, and a stilt walker.

Airport Art Program Dates to 1962

The Phoenix Airport Museum is one of the oldest airport art programs in the country, with roots going back to 1962 when Terminal 2 opened with a 75-foot mural called “The Phoenix.”

The museum now includes more than 1,000 artworks in all mediums, from artist-designed terrazzo floors to sculptures and murals.

More than 40 exhibition spaces rotate every six to 12 months.

The Sky Train stations feature major public art installations including a ceiling made of 6,610 aluminum panels painted in six shades of blue.

Local Restaurants Serve Arizona Favorites

Sky Harbor brings local Phoenix flavors into its terminals with restaurants like Barrio Cafe, where James Beard award-winning chef Silvana Salcido Esparza’s menu features tableside guacamole and Oaxacan-style dishes.

La Grande Orange offers pizza, gelato, and grab-and-go items. Four Peaks Brewing and OHSO tap local craft beers near the gates.

The airport has more than 50 restaurants and cafes on both sides of security, and most are homegrown Arizona businesses rather than national chains.

Sky Train Runs Free Around the Clock

The PHX Sky Train is a free automated train that connects the airport terminals to parking lots, the rental car center, and the Valley Metro light rail station at 44th Street and Washington.

Trains run 24 hours a day, arriving every three to five minutes during peak hours. The system includes a 100-foot bridge over an active taxiway, tall enough for a Boeing 747 to pass underneath.

Passengers can ride the light rail from downtown Phoenix and transfer to the Sky Train without paying an extra fare.

Billions Going Into Airport Upgrades

Sky Harbor has major construction projects underway to handle future growth.

A $326 million renovation of Terminal 3 started in April 2025 and will add six new gates, new lounges, and better views of Camelback Mountain by 2027.

A new taxiway bridge connecting the north and south airfields has a $333 million budget, with $200 million coming from federal infrastructure funding.

The airport also plans a post-security walkway between Terminals 3 and 4 so passengers can move between concourses without leaving the secure area.

Visiting Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Arizona

Phoenix Sky Harbor sits just three miles from downtown Phoenix at 3400 East Sky Harbor Boulevard. The airport is open 24 hours a day with free Wi-Fi throughout the terminals.

You can explore the Phoenix Airport Museum exhibitions without a ticket since most art is located before security checkpoints.

The Culture Corner in Terminal 3 hosts free monthly events near Gate F3.

The PHX Sky Train connects to the Valley Metro light rail at the 44th Street station, where a single ride costs $2 and gets you to downtown Phoenix in about 15 minutes.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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