Nov. 16, 2023

Phoenix Sky Harbor Claims Top Honors

America’s Friendliest Airport® receives top ranking from Wall Street Journal and other prestigious awards

PHOENIX – Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport was once again named the top airport in the nation among large airports by the Wall Street Journal. Fewest flight cancellations, taxi out time, and rideshare fees were among PHX’s top scores in the Wall Street Journal’s annual Airports Ranking study. This is the second time that Phoenix Sky Harbor has received this prestigious ranking. The Airport was previously ranked number 1 in 2019.

“I’ve been at the airport dozens of times over the last year and a half for major announcements – the opening of the new Eighth Concourse; the opening Stage 2 of the PHX Sky Train^®; the launch of mobile ID for Apple Wallet, the launch of Waymo, new air service announcements, Dementia-Friendly initiatives, and making burgers with Bobby Flay,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “All those announcements and the hard work of the Sky Harbor team have been adding up. Their dedication and devotion earned us this recognition from the Wall Street Journal, and we couldn’t do it without our amazing Aviation team and everyone who makes the airport run.”

The study examined the nation’s largest airports on a number of factors including reliability, on-time performance, security wait times, airfare prices, customer satisfaction and more. Reliability was the key indicator in this survey.

America’s Friendliest Airport® scored very high in the reliability category due to Phoenix’s weather, fewest flight cancellations, and the time it takes for passengers to take off.  The Airport, which is the busiest three runway airport in the world, focuses on running efficient airport operations on its airfield, on its curbs and roadways and in its terminals.

“Phoenix Sky Harbor is America’s best airport for one simple reason, our commitment to provide an extraordinary airport experience for our passengers,” said Phoenix City Councilwoman for District 1 Ann O’Brien. “We know that people love Sky Harbor for its access to local Arizona foods and restaurants, and the dedication of our Aviation Department employees to deliver a top-notch experience every day. I am immensely proud of our employees and our city for these honors and look forward to welcoming even more travelers to our great city in the year ahead.”

In addition, Phoenix Sky Harbor’s convenient location to downtown Phoenix has been touted by locals and visitors alike, and its low-cost fares to get downtown via rideshare were also a standout in the survey.  Among major airports, Phoenix Sky Harbor had the lowest Uber X costs. The survey calculated the prices from the airport to downtown areas.

Phoenix Sky Harbor, which focuses on providing an extraordinary airport for a thriving Phoenix, has had over the past year a number of investments to elevate the passenger experience. This has included the opening of a new eight gate concourse in Terminal 4, the extension of the PHX Sky Train^® to the Rental Car Center, and innovative firsts like being the first airport in the country to offer mobile ID to travelers at the security checkpoints and the first airport in the world to offer travelers the option to take an autonomous vehicle via Waymo to and from the airport.

“This is a well-deserved honor, as the Airport is reliable, efficient, and strives to provide excellent service to passengers, said Phoenix City Councilwoman for District 3 Debra Stark. “Phoenix will continue to make investments and innovations at Sky Harbor that give us this distinguished reputation.”

America’s Friendliest Airport^® also has a major focus on accessibility, and it’s now being recognized on a global scale. International Airport Review held their Airport Honour Awards and on November 14, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport was awarded an Accessible Airport Award. This prestigious award recognizes airports who are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all passengers and have implemented accessible facilities, services, and programs to ensure that all passengers have equal access to air travel. America’s Friendliest Airport® was highly commended for efforts at assisting the visually impaired with the Aira app, having hearing loop technology for the hearing impaired, providing a Sensory Room for those travelers who have sensory issues, and focusing on dementia-friendly training.

In fact, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the first airport in the country to hold a Dementia-Friendly Travel Workshop for caregivers of those with dementia. The workshop was held this summer. Future sessions are being planned for 2024, and the Airport was the winner this week in Airports Council International-North America’s Excellence in Marketing, Communications and Customer Experience Awards  for Best Large Airport Customer Service Program.

The Airport has many other services and amenities like award-winning local dining options, a renowned volunteer program, one of the largest airport art programs in the world, pet parks and more. Phoenix Sky Harbor is also embarking upon several projects to continue to enhance the guest experience including a new cross-field taxiway to get travelers to their gates even faster, a new north concourse at Terminal 3 and a post-security walkway between both terminals.

To learn more about airport amenities and future development, visit skyharbor.com.

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Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, America’s Friendliest Airport^®, has an annual economic impact of more than $38 billion. On an average day, approximately 1,200 aircraft and more than 130,000 passengers arrive at and depart from Phoenix Sky Harbor every day. PHX Sky Harbor is funded with airport revenue. No tax dollars are used to support the airport.