The Phoenix City Council approved a plan to add gates to Terminal 4 and extend Sky Train service at Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX).
The project, which is projected to cost $950 million, will add Terminal 4’s eighth and final concourse. It also includes a two-mile extension to its Sky Train people mover.
The additional gates will allow the airport to accommodate the longer and wider aircraft that are becoming more common. Plus, the airport is creating more capacity necessary due to a projected 9 percent increase in passengers by 2021. The project is scheduled to be finished that year.
A 9 percent increase in passengers would drive traffic to 48 million by 2021. Total passenger traffic in 2015 was just over 44 million.
The Sky Train extension will connect all terminals to the rental car center and parking lots. Right now the airport has a fleet of 108 shuttle buses to transport passengers to and from the rental car center. It’s an arrangement that hasn’t been well received by passengers, according to Jim Bennett, aviation director at PHX.
“Fundamentally what we’re trying to do is improve customer service and position ourselves for future growth,” says Bennett.
