Greater Phoenix Chamber Of Commerce: Top Takeaways: The Future Of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Press release from the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce:

2021-04-22

The Greater Phoenix Chamber’s Economic Development Insider Series in April featured Chad Makovsky, the new Director of Aviation Services for the City of Phoenix. With an economic impact of $38 billion annually, Mr. Makovsky discussed recent updates to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and broke down his top priorities as Director in the months and years to come.

ABOUT PHOENIX SKY HARBOR/POST-PANDEMIC TRAVEL

• Phoenix Sky Harbor was named number 1 U.S. airport by the Wall Street Journal
• They recently introduced the Navigator Buddies Program to use animals to calm people’s anxiety
• Business travel is bouncing back much slower than leisure travel.
• Long term expenditures and procedures have been implemented for the long run (post pandemic).
• TSMC – Taiwan semi-conductor manufacturing plant located at the I17 and 303 is making a huge impact:
  • Building new plant
  • This is an important addition to the region. It is anticipated to create a stronger pitch for Sky Harbor to have further services into Asia.

CURRENT PROJECTS

• PHX Sky Train Stage 2 – on schedule and on budget – is scheduled to open in mid-2022.
  • Addresses the challenge of getting people from the main terminal to rental car facilities
  • Will take hundreds of busses off the street
• New convenient, affordable parking will be available at the 24th Street Station
• Terminal 4 is adding an eighth concourse:
  • New construction set for 2022
  • Currently solicitating for restaurants, bars, and businesses
  • Local, regional, and national brands will be featured in this new facility
• The pandemic caused some project delays.
  • Suspending almost $8 million on operating projects
  • Reduced budget during the pandemic
• Terminal 2 is in the final stages of demolition.
  • Removing famous mural and preserving it. It will go to the rental car facility area.
  • This space will turn into…
  • Realignment of Sky Harbor BLVD.

PASSENGER PROJECTS

• 50% of pre-pandemic levels in 2019
• In late March-early April we were seeing levels around 10% shy of 2019

NEW FLIGHTS

• American Airlines providing new, nonstop flights to Caulican, MX
• Southwest nonstop to Cancun

AIRPORT FUNDING

• It is not general taxpayer money- Enterprise facility and is fully self-sustained
• The airport, by federal law, has to operate under it’s on funding
• Sky Harbor must be a self-sustained business
• Keep costs low while still having a quality airport
• Low cost airport for the airlines and the consumers
• A lot of choices drive down airfares

GOALS

HEALTH & SAFETY

• Not only for the traveling public but to keep employees safe and healthy
• Federal mask mandate will continue to be in place for the next several months
• GBAC Star Facility Seal – consistent cleaning, disinfecting

FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT

• Being customer friendly as America’s friendliest airport. Wants to continue to make investments that align with the evolving changing needs of the customers.
• Affordable, cost efficient, climate friendly airport

SMART INVESTMENTS

• Investments need to align with the capacity of the runways we have

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

• ””If we take good care of our employees, I know they will turn around and take good care of our customers.”

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

• Here first and foremost to serve our community. Continue to listen and reach out to support the community.

SUSTAINABILITY FOCUS

• Sky Harbor is at level 3 sustainability
• Actively reducing carbon footprint at Sky Harbor and continue operating in a sustainable way in the future
• Mega Trends
  • Population growth – we have more and more people competing for those same physical and natural resources.
  • Aviation contributes to a little over 2% of the global carbon footprint
  • Ultimately get to a net zero carbon… by 2050
  • 90% of carbon is from electrical consumption – create new programs to lower carbon footprint

This press release was produced by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.