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MILESTONE
Phoenix Sky Harbor sees busiest year ever
Most travelers ever passed through airport, helped by Super Bowl, Phoenix Open, Spring Training, World Series
(AP Photo/Matt York)
A jet takes flight as heat ripples radiate from the runway on July 25, 2023 at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix.
Posted
Special to Independent Newsmedia
Year-end numbers show that Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport reached a new passenger milestone as 2023 was the busiest year in its history.
More than 48.8 million travelers passed through Sky Harbor last year, surpassing the previous record set in 2019 when nearly 46.3 million passengers were served, the airport announced Tuesday. The year-end passenger total for Phoenix Sky Harbor was 5.6% higher than 2019 and 10.1% higher than 2022.
“The record-breaking number of passengers Phoenix Sky Harbor saw in 2023 is a testament to the efficiency of our airport and of the strong guest experience we offer travelers and businesses,” Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego shared in a press release. “I’m so proud to see our state’s number one economic engine in the state shine, particularly on the fronts of innovation and customer service.”
In February of last year, Phoenix Sky Harbor recorded its busiest day ever the day after the Super Bowl by hosting more than 200,000 people through its doors on Feb. 13. The airport saw strong numbers throughout 2023 with each month being busier than 2019 numbers.
These numbers were bolstered due to major events such as the Super Bowl, WM Phoenix Open, Spring Training, and the World Series.
The year also included expanding innovations like autonomous vehicle pick-ups with Waymo from the 44th Street Sky Train Station to the 24th Street Station as well as terminal curbs in the evening.
Additionally, 2023 saw the opening of new shops and restaurants on its new Eighth Concourse in Terminal 4. Restaurants included local favorites like Sip Coffee and Beer and Pedal Haus Brewery as well as Chick-fil-A and the first ever Bobby’s Burgers by celebrity chef Bobby Flay in an airport.
In 2023, Phoenix Sky Harbor also saw airlines boost their service to Phoenix. Twenty-one new destinations were added to the airport’s air service offerings and two new airlines made their home at Phoenix Sky Harbor – Flair and Lynx Airlines.
All of the enhancements and activity culminated in Phoenix Sky Harbor being named the number one airport among large airports by “The Wall Street Journal” this past November.
