Arizona travelers can expect more American Airlines flights, new international connections and a higher-quality airport experience with an upcoming infrastructure upgrade.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is planning a new terminal west of the existing Terminals 3 and 4, anticipating growing interest in travel to and from Arizona following record passenger volumes.
American Airlines will anchor Sky Harbor's upcoming West Terminal, according to recent announcements from Phoenix and the airline.
The new terminal is part of an effort to enhance and improve the infrastructure and passenger experience at Sky Harbor to serve 90 million flyers by 2050. The airport welcomed more than 50 million passengers in 2024 and 2025.
Here's what we know about
the new terminal, when it will open and what it means for Phoenix.
New terminal could lead to more international routes
One facet of the West Terminal and American Airlines anchoring the terminal that excites local officials is that it provides more opportunities for long-haul international routes. Phoenix officials said the new terminal would be built to accommodate more of the widebody aircraft used for long-haul flights.
Many Valley travelers seek direct connections to top European and Asian vacation spots without having to connect in Los Angeles, Las Vegas or Denver first.
Phoenix's evolution into a hub of the semiconductor industry contributed to Sky Harbor getting its first nonstop Asian routes, China Airlines and Starlux Airlines flights to Taipei, Taiwan. A new terminal could lead Phoenix to enter new Asian markets, such as Japan and South Korea, said Todd Sanders, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.
"Phoenix is on the map economically (and) companies want to do business with Arizona," Sanders said. "Having these new markets will be critical."
Years before Sky Harbor landed its first nonstop Asian flights, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego traveled to Taiwan, Japan and South Korea in part to advocate for new air service between Phoenix and Asia.
More European routes to add to the existing London and Paris flights are likely, too. Phoenix Aviation Services Director Chad Makovsky told The Arizona Republic in previous interviews that Sky Harbor's air service development team has been in talks to attract airlines for routes that could include Amsterdam and the return of flights to Germany, years after a court ruling ended Condor Airlines flights between Phoenix and Frankfurt, Germany.
American Airlines will remain key to Sky Harbor growth
Sky Harbor is Arizona's largest economic engine, generating $44.3 billion in economic impact and supporting 47,000 jobs, according to a 2024 economic impact study by Arizona State University's W.P. Carey School of Business.
American's flights are a huge part of that, responsible for about 40% of Sky Harbor's operations. More than 20 million people fly with American to and from Sky Harbor annually, according to the airline and Sky Harbor's passenger traffic data.
American CEO Robert Isom said in a statement that American's partnership with Phoenix on the West Terminal "will support continued growth, create jobs, strengthen global connectivity and deliver an even better experience for our customers with much-needed new premium spaces."
"The future West Terminal will further connect Phoenix to destinations around the world, strongly positioning the city to lead the next generation of travel by driving economic opportunity, tourism and global business connections for the region," Isom said.
American, which is celebrating its centennial year in 2026, became the dominant airline at Sky Harbor because of a series of mergers with the former America West Airlines, headquartered in Tempe. America West was the anchor carrier at Terminal 4 when it opened in 1990, though it would also bolster Southwest Airlines' footprint in the Valley.
Sanders sees American's capacity for domestic and international flights growing at Sky Harbor with the West Terminal. He thinks the airport's existing long-haul international routes and metro Phoenix's economic growth in the semiconductor, health care and financial services industries will play a role in expanding Sky Harbor's reach in the coming years.
Sky Harbor has an added benefit from a geographic advantage few airports have, Sanders added.
"Having an airport within 10 minutes of downtown really makes a difference," he said.
First new terminal construction since 1990
When the West Terminal opens, it will be Sky Harbor's first new terminal in more than four decades. Its scheduled 2033 opening would come 43 years after Terminal 4's debut.
The West Terminal is envisioned as having a similar size and layout as Terminal 4, including eight concourses, according to Jordan Feld, Phoenix's deputy aviation director of planning and environmental.
Airport officials built out the existing terminals in phases, adding new concourses as their needs evolved with growth. The West Terminal will also be developed in phases, Feld said.
Sanders thinks the phased approach will help Phoenix be "very intentional" in how it approaches meeting future demand for flights.
In previous interviews with The Arizona Republic, Makovsky said the new terminal is needed in part because American Airlines wanted to expand its presence at the airport, but the existing terminals wouldn't offer enough gates. Terminal 3, opened in 1979; and Terminal 4, opened in 1990; were built to handle crowds for smaller planes than the ones that fly today.
Terminal 4 has no more room to expand after the debut of an eight-gate Southwest Airlines concourse in 2022. Terminal 3 will be built out after the opening of a new six-gate concourse, expected to open in late 2027.
In public meetings, airport officials said they expect Sky Harbor's demand will exceed its gate capacity by the end of the 2030s.
When will the new Phoenix airport terminal be built?
Construction on the West Terminal is expected to begin in 2029, three years earlier than initially scheduled.
The Federal Aviation Administration told Sky Harbor officials in December 2025 that an environmental impact statement from 2006 was sufficient enough to move forward with the terminal's planning and development.
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Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@usatodayco.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What Sky Harbor's new West Terminal means for Phoenix travelers
