Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Continent: North America

Country: United States

Region: Arizona

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Location	Phoenix, Arizona
IATA code	PHX
ICAO code	KPHX
Airport type	Commercial
Website	https://www.skyharbor.com/
Overview map	Google Maps
Communications
Tower	118.70 North 120.90 South
Ground	119.75 North 132.55 West
Clearance	118.10
Approach	128.65 North Arrival 124.10 South Arrival 126.60 North Final 120.40 South Final
Departure	119.20 North 126.80 South
ATIS	127.575
Departure	122.95
Plane Spotting Hotels guide

Phoenix Sky Harbor is located east of downtown Phoenix just north of Interstate 10. The airport has a single access roadway, "Sky Harbor Boulevard", that runs east-west through the central terminal area. The airport has three parallel runways: 8-26 on the north side (north complex), and 7L-25R/7R-25L on the south side (south complex). Generally photography and spotting are welcomed at the airport and the local authorities are friendly to visitors.

Official Spotting Locations

Terminal 4 Garage

The Terminal 4 rooftop garage can offer good views of the east end of the airport, including both runways. Levels 7 and 8 are preferred for photography. The north side faces the American Airlines hub operation as well as runway 8/26. Afternoon landing shots can be taken with a 300-500mm lens. The south side faces the Southwest hub operation. Photography of either ramp is variable depending on the sun (the American side is best photographed in winter, Southwest on summer evenings). During the summer, before sunset, photography is possible of aircraft queuing up to depart runway 25L (south runway); again, a 300mm lens is needed.

Terminal 3 Garage

This garage offers views of both runways as well as the midfield taxiway crossovers (Taxiways Sierra and Tango). Level 4 is preferred, as Level 5 is enclosed by a wire fence and Level 6 is the top and exposed to the sun. The east end of the garage faces the crossover taxiways, and photography is best in the afternoon. A control tower obstructs some of the view. The corners of the parking garage are best for photography, however, beware of shadows falling across aircraft from the control tower and antenna. Since most departing traffic uses the south runway, a good mix of traffic will use the crossover. Both north and south gate areas of Terminal 3 can be photographed from the garage as well.

Other Spotting Locations

These spots all require a car to access.

Old Tower Road

Head west and exit the airport on 24th Street. Turn left (south) on 24th Street and turn left on Old Tower Road. Park in the dirt lot next to the street (you must drive over a curb to do this - the street is posted no parking) or at the Best Western south of I-10 and walk back. This spot is good for landing shots on 7R in morning hours, all year.

Cutter Aviation

Continue east on Old Tower Road. Cutter Aviation has an observation deck, located under the old ATC tower. The deck may or may not be open - contact Cutter before spotting or photography. Landing shots can be taken of runway 7R, but need a 300-500mm lens. Cutter does not allow photography of aircraft on their ramp.

South Cargo

Continue east of Cutter on Old Tower Road. Before reaching the Air National Guard base, views of aircraft parked on the South Cargo ramp can be seen through the fence. Ramp clutter may be an issue for photography.

Left Seat Restaurant

Located on Air Lane between 24th Street and 32nd Street, north of the airport. Open weekdays for breakfast and lunch (0600-1400 M-F), the Left Seat restaurant offers good views of traffic on runway 8/26. A rooftop spotting deck is open during business hours, although it faces south and into the sun.

Air Lane

On Air Lane, between 40th Street and State Highway 153, there is a asphalt parking lot with a small tree. This spot offers views of the north runway, although it faces south and into the sun much of the year. Photographs of landings on Runway 26 are possible on summer evenings when the sunset is to the northwest. This spot offers no shade and no facilities, but it is preferred by the local police as a place to spot.

East Economy Lot area

A parking garage is located in the airport's east economy parking lot. This garage may offer good opportunities to photograph landing aircraft on the south runways during summer evenings.

40th Street/Salt River Bank

Leave the airport via the east exit, and head south on State Highway 153. Turn right on University Ave, where the freeway ends, and right on 40th Street. Take 40th Street north until it ends. Park at the end of the road, or drive up the dirt embankment. On top of the dirt embankment, the threshold of runways 25L and 25R can be seen to the north, and landing shots taken for aircraft landing 25L/R in winter sunlight. Departing aircraft from 7L may also be photographed with a 300mm lens in the morning.

Locations to Avoid

Avoid all employee parking lots as they are secured by card access and are guarded. This includes the East Employee parking lot.

Regular Traffic

Landings normally use the North (8/26) and South (7R/25L) runways. Departures normally use the center (7L/25R) runway. The airport normally operates east during the morning (landing 7R and 8, departing 7L) and west from mid-morning through the evening (landing 25L and 26, departing 25R).

Airline	Aircraft	Terminal
Advanced Airlines	Beech Super King Air 350	3
Aeronaves TSM	CRJ-100
Air Canada	A320	3
Air Canada Express (Jazz Aviation)	CRJ-900	3
Air Canada Rouge	A319, A321	3
Air France	787-9	4
Alaska Airlines	737-800, 737-900, 737 MAX 9	3
Allegiant Air	A319, A320	3
Amazon Air (Air Transport International)	767-300
Amazon Air (Sun Country Airlines)	737-800
American Airlines	737-800, 737 MAX 8, 777-200, A319, A320, A321, A321neo	4
American Eagle (SkyWest Airlines)	CRJ-700, E175	4
American Eagle (Envoy Air)	E175	4
Ameriflight	Beech 99, EMB-120
Breeze Airways	A220-300	3
British Airways	A350-1000	4
Condor Airlines	A330-900	4
Contour Airlines	ERJ-135	4
Delta Air Lines	737-800, 737-900, 757-200, A321, A321neo	3
Delta Connection (SkyWest Airlines)	E175	3
Denver Air Connection (Key Lime Air)	Dornier 328JET, Fairchild Metro	3
DHL (ABX Air)	767-300
FedEx	767-300, 777F, A300-600
FedEx Feeder (Empire Airlines)	Cessna 208
Frontier Airlines	A320neo, A321	3
Hawaiian Airlines	787-9	3
JetBlue Airways	A220-300	3
Northern Air Cargo	737-800
Southern Airways Express	PC-12	3
Southwest Airlines	737-700, 737-800, 737 MAX 8	4
Spirit Airlines	A320neo, A321	3
Sun Country Airlines	737-800	3
United Airlines	737-800, 737-900, 737 MAX 8, 737 MAX 9	3
United Express (Mesa Airlines)	CRJ-900, E175	3
United Express (SkyWest Airlines)	E175	3
UPS Airlines	767-300
Volaris	A320	4
WestJet Airlines	737-700, 737-800	4

In the past the airport was a well known place where to find several international airliners at the maintenance hangar and Alitalia MD-11, Korean Air MD-11 and Saudia L-1011 are among airplanes known to be spotted there. This is no longer the case since Southwest Airlines bought the maintenance area and does not accept any other airlines' aircraft to be repaired there.

Facilities and Transportation

All terminals and remote parking lots are connected by the SkyTrain.

Valley Metro runs two bus lines through Sky Harbor. The Red Line goes west to downtown and east to Downtown Tempe, where numerous bars and restaurants are located. The SkyTrain provides service between the Metro Light Rail stop at 44th Street and Washington and the airport terminals.

Local Resources

Visiting PHX