Phoenix Sky International Airport

Phoenix Sky International Airport (PHX) is the most important international airport of Arizona. The largest airport in the American Southwest, PHX is located just three miles away from the central business area of the city of Phoenix. PHX is the main hub of US Airways and the third largest point of operations for Southwest Airlines. It is certainly one of the busiest airports in the United States.

PHX has three terminals: Terminals 2, 3 and 4. The original terminal, Terminal 1, was demolished in 1990 and its designation is no longer put to use. Terminal 2 is also scheduled to be torn down to give way to the construction of a new terminal.

Terminal 2 has 17 gates operating on a single concourse. On the other hand, Terminal 3 has two concourses: the North Concourse and the South Concourse. Both terminals cater to domestic flights.

Terminal 4, also called the Barry M. Goldwater Terminal, has four concourses. United Airways has sole use of Concourse A and shares Concourse B with PHX's international flights. Southwest Airlines shares Concourse C with ATA Airlines but has full use of Concourse D.

PHX is the first airport in the United States to implement the new Backscatter X-ray technology that is used for screening passengers for hidden explosives, weapons and drugs as part of the reinforced anti- terrorism security measures enforced by the US State Department.

Ground Transport

Passengers are transported between terminals and the airport's economy parking lots via free shuttle buses marked green and white. Shuttle buses dedicated to taking passengers between the terminals and parking lots are marked according to which parking lots they service: Jackrabbit Bus for the West Economy parking area, Gecko Bus for the East Economy parking area, and Roadrunner Bus for Garages A and B of the East Economy lot. The buses serving the terminals only are marked "Inter-Terminal."

For destinations outside the airport area, there are many intercity shuttles and buses available to take travelers there. Among these intercity shuttles and buses are Phoenix Transit, Arizona Shuttle, Sedona Phoenix Shuttle, Prescott Transit and Ace-Xpress.

Taxis and limousines are also available to provide airport-to-door services for passengers. Car Parks and Car Hire PHX has a total car parking capacity of 8,859 spaces. Each of the three terminals have its own multi-story short-term parking area attached to it, while long term parking is available in various lots nearby. These remote parking lots are serviced by free shuttle buses.

Car hiring services are facilitated at PHX's Rental Car Center, located at

East Sky Harbor Circle South. The Rental Car Center is serviced by a dedicated shuttle bus that can be taken from the baggage claim area.

Hotels within the Airport

PHX does not have any on-site hotels, but there are nearby hotels with courtesy telephone services at the Arrivals areas of all the three terminals. These nearby hotels include Crowne Plaza, Hilton Phoenix Airport, Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Airport and Phoenix Airport Marriott. Most of these hotels provide free shuttle services to their clients coming from PHX.

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