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United, Alaska among airlines moving terminals in Phoenix

Edward RussellContributor
Edward Russell is a contributor for TPG. An AvGeek at heart, he covered the airline business at FlightGlobal for eight years and previously covered finance in New York and Hong Kong.

January 30, 2020 • 5 min read

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Travelers flying through Phoenix Sky Harbor next week best take note of what terminal their flight departs from as the airport relocates five airlines to Terminal 3 ahead of the closing of Terminal 2.

Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Boutique Air, Contour Airlines and United Airlines will relocate to Terminal 3 between Monday, Feb. 3, and Thursday, Feb. 6, according to the Phoenix airport (PHX). Boutique moves on Monday, United on Tuesday, Alaska and Contour on Wednesday, and Air Canada on Thursday.

All but one of the carriers, plus Hawaiian Airlines, will operate from the rebuilt North Concourse, which has 10 gates. Boutique will operate from the South Concourse that opened a year ago.

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John McCain Terminal 3 in Phoenix reopened in 2019. (Image courtesy of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport)

Air Canada, Alaska, Contour, Hawaiian Airlines and United will operate from the rebuilt North Concourse in Terminal 3 at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport from next week. (Image by Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport)

One notable change for United travelers: the airline will not have a lounge in Terminal 3, at least not initially. Its United Club in Terminal 2 will close when it moves, with a new 5,400 square-foot lounge in Terminal 3 not due to open for several months, United spokesman Jonathan Guerin told TPG.

The American Express Centurion Lounge that opened at Sky Harbor earlier this month is in Terminal 4 and not accessible inside security to passengers on flights departing Terminal 3.

The interior of the rebuilt Terminal 3 North Concourse at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport. (Image courtesy of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport)

Phoenix handled a record 46.3 million passengers in 2019, a 3% year-over-year increase, according to airport data. The airport is a hub for American Airlines, and a large base for Southwest Airlines -- both of which operate from Terminal 4 at Sky Harbor.

Phoenix was the 13th-busiest airport in the U.S. by passenger boardings in 2018, according to Department of Transportation rankings.

Terminal 2 will close when the relocations to Terminal 3 are complete, and is expected to be demolished. Terminal 2 — the oldest among the airport's three passenger terminals — opened in 1962 with a mid-century modern aesthetic.

View this post on Instagram

Phoenix Sky Harbor Terminal 2 mid-century lobby (opened 1962), by Weaver & Drover, and Lescher & Mahoney. ???? @phxskyharbor. #airportarchitecture

A post shared by Airport Architecture (@airportarchitecture) on Jan 29, 2020 at 7:32am PST

Terminal 2 has been home to numerous carriers of the years. Past tenants include American and Trans World Airlines (TWA) in the 1970s, and former Republic Airlines' short-lived Phoenix hub in the 1980s.

American Airlines and TWA both operated from Terminal 2 at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport in the 1970s. (Image courtesy of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport)

Terminal 3 opened in 1979. It was home to America West Airlines' hub, the forerunner to American's hub today, until Terminal 4 opened in 1990.

Updated with comment from United on plans for a new United Club in Terminal 3.

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All but one of the carriers, plus Hawaiian Airlines, will operate from the rebuilt North Concourse, which has 10 gates. Boutique will operate from the South Concourse that opened a year ago.

Sign up for the free daily TPG newsletter for more airline news!

The American Express Centurion Lounge that opened at Sky Harbor earlier this month is in Terminal 4 and not accessible inside security to passengers on flights departing Terminal 3.

Phoenix was the 13th-busiest airport in the U.S. by passenger boardings in 2018, according to Department of Transportation rankings.

View this post on Instagram

Phoenix Sky Harbor Terminal 2 mid-century lobby (opened 1962), by Weaver & Drover, and Lescher & Mahoney. ???? @phxskyharbor. #airportarchitecture

A post shared by Airport Architecture (@airportarchitecture) on Jan 29, 2020 at 7:32am PST

Terminal 3 opened in 1979. It was home to America West Airlines' hub, the forerunner to American's hub today, until Terminal 4 opened in 1990.

Updated with comment from United on plans for a new United Club in Terminal 3.

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