Terminal 3 at Sky Harbor Airport · K50 Dude · CC BY 3.0 · edited
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport will build its first new terminal in more than three decades, and American Airlines will be its primary carrier. The airport and the City of Phoenix announced on September 21, 2026 that the new West Terminal is targeted to open in late 2033, as part of a long range plan called Destination PHX 2050.
The airport’s announcement sets out a timeline that runs through the rest of the decade, while promising upgrades to the busy Terminal 4 that travelers use today. If you are planning a trip to the city in the meantime, our guide to things to do in Phoenix covers where to spend your time once you land.
- What: a new West Terminal at Phoenix Sky Harbor, the first since Terminal 4 opened in 1990.
- Primary carrier: American Airlines, which carries about 40% of the airport’s traffic.
- Timeline: design procurement in 2027, construction possibly from late 2029, opening targeted for late 2033.
- Not yet set: gate count, final design and total cost.
- Near term: investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in Terminal 4.
What Was Announced
The airport named American Airlines as the primary carrier for the West Terminal, which will sit on the west side of the airfield. Arizona’s Family, the Phoenix television news site, reported that it will be built between Terminal 3 and Taxiway U. It will be the first new terminal at Sky Harbor since Terminal 4 opened in 1990.
The number of gates and the terminal’s design are still being determined, according to the airport. The announcement did not give a cost estimate. The airport says the project will be paid for with passenger facility charges, bonds and airport revenue, and that no local tax dollars will be used.
“The West Terminal is a game-changing investment in our economic future,” Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said in the announcement. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said the airline carries more than 20 million customers through Sky Harbor each year. “Phoenix is a critical part of American’s network and we’re excited to continue to invest in the airport and this region’s future,” Isom said, as quoted by Arizona’s Family.
The Timeline to 2033
The airport expects to begin procurement for the terminal’s design in 2027. Construction could potentially start in late 2029, and the opening is targeted for late 2033. Each of those dates is a target rather than a commitment, and large airport projects often shift as designs, costs and financing are settled.
Travelers who fly through Phoenix in the next few years should not expect the new terminal to change their trips. Work on the airfield side has already affected access in places; we reported earlier on the road access shift for Taxiway U work, the same area the new terminal will border.
Terminal 4 Upgrades in the Meantime
For now, Terminal 4 remains the center of the airport. The airport says the 36 year old building handles about 75% of passenger traffic. It is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in the terminal, including concessions, the central plant, baggage systems, moving walkways, plumbing and electrical work.
The airport says more modernization will follow once American relocates to the West Terminal. The announcement did not say which airlines would use the space American leaves behind in Terminal 4, or how gates would be reassigned.
Destination PHX 2050
The West Terminal is the first major piece of Destination PHX 2050, a development program intended to prepare the airport to serve 90 million passengers a year by 2050 while improving the passenger experience. Sky Harbor currently handles about 1,300 aircraft operations and more than 140,000 passengers a day, according to the airport.
The airport did not publish a full list of projects in the program with the announcement. Travelers should treat the 2050 figure as a planning target that shows the scale of growth the airport expects, rather than a schedule of changes they will see soon.
| If you… | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Fly American through Phoenix now | Nothing changes; Terminal 4 remains your terminal. |
| Use Terminal 4 often | Expect upgrade work on concessions, baggage and walkways over time. |
| Drive to the west side of the airport | Watch for access changes tied to airfield construction. |
| Fly another airline from Terminal 4 | No gate changes have been announced. |
| Plan trips after 2033 | American flights are expected to move to the West Terminal. |
Late 2033 target for the West Terminal opening.
Terminal 4 stays central for years, with upgrades under way.
Gates and cost have not been announced.
When will the new Phoenix terminal open?
The airport is targeting late 2033, with design procurement in 2027 and construction possibly starting in late 2029.
Which airline will use the West Terminal?
American Airlines will be the primary carrier.
How many gates will it have?
The airport says the gate count and design are still being determined.
Will taxes pay for it?
The airport says it will use passenger facility charges, bonds and airport revenue, not local tax dollars.
Does this affect my flight through Phoenix this year?
No. Terminal 4 continues to operate, and the airport is investing in upgrades there.
