Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the best big airport in the country, based on new rankings by the Wall Street Journal.
Reliability, value and convenience accounted for half of an airport’s overall score. Mayor Kate Gallego said Sky Harbor was recognized for having some of the fewest flight cancellations.
“We’re also recognized for the taxi-out time, the time it takes for a plane to leave the gate when it takes off,” she said Thursday. “That means we are getting people where they need to go on time, so they can make that wedding, that business meeting or just more time with their family,”
In partnership with the federal government, Phoenix will invest $194 million for a new taxiway.
“I always say working at an airport our size is a team sport,” said Aviation Director Chad Makovsky. “And we have so many amazing business partners, government agencies. We have the FAA, the TSA, customs, the FBI, our amazing law enforcement team, Phoenix police, Phoenix fire and all of our business partners: the airlines, the rental car companies, the concessionaires, they all come together to make a seamless experience for all of our airport customers.”
Sky Harbor ranked well on domestic airfare prices and ride sharing costs from the airport to downtown but poorly for rental-car rates, which the Journal priced in November and not having enough bars and restaurants.
Sky Harbor’s overall score was 63.4 out of 100. Airports in. Minneapolis, Los Angeles and Atlanta all scored around 63.
