Plans to develop a new terminal at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport may take place sooner than expected. That’s because of updates to FAA guidance, which accelerated the process for the project.
Officials looked at opening the terminal in 2036. However, the updated guidance moved the potential opening to 2033.
The FAA determined that the environmental impact statement from 2006 to be sufficient for moving forward with the terminal.
Assistant Aviation Director Daver Malik says the increase in airlines and people means the airport needs to provide more support.
“So the airlines continue to expand there. They're continuing to grow. And with our future projections, we are pretty much running out of room to support that growth here for our airlines and also for our community," he says.
He also says the federal agency uses the statement to gauge projects.
“This is where the FAA looks at sort of comprehensively at the scope of what the airport is planning to do and how it impacts existing facilities, the surrounding areas in the community, and makes a determination if that project or that development can proceed," he said.
Malik says the major challenges with developing the terminal in the coming years are making sure to minimize impacts to existing operations.
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