PHOENIX – Monday, February 13, marked a milestone day for America’s Friendliest Airport® as more than 200,000 visitors came through the Airport. This is the single busiest day in Phoenix Sky Harbor International’s history. The Airport, which served more than 44 million passengers in 2022, has an average of 120,000 passengers come through its doors on an average day.
“Super Bowl LVII set records across the City of Phoenix, and that could not be more evident than at our airport,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “These numbers speak to the appeal of Phoenix and Arizona as a destination for high caliber events. Our airport is our front door, and I couldn’t be more proud of the work that went in to preparing for these record-breaking numbers.”
This was the fourth time Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport welcomed visitors to the area for the Big Game. Planning began more than a year ago as the Airport worked closely with the airlines, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), law enforcement, concessionaires, and the Super Bowl Host Committee to prepare. Combined with the Super Bowl, the Valley of the Sun also welcomed visitors coming in for the W.M. Phoenix Open golf tournament. This resulted in the significant influx of passengers coming through Airport facilities.
Overall, Phoenix Sky Harbor saw the following on Monday, February 13:
Many airport partners brought in additional staff just for the event. The TSA also brought in extra K-9 teams to assist with security screening. And, there were extra volunteers on hand as well. More than 80 volunteer Navigators and Navigator Buddy therapy dog teams were in the terminals. There were also 45 volunteers from the Super Bowl Host Committee.
Phoenix’s general aviation airports were also busy. At Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, they had 135 aircraft come in for the Big Game. On Monday, there were 91 operations. At Phoenix Goodyear Airport, they had 130 aircraft come in for the Super Bowl, and total operations for Monday was 137.
“We received a tremendous amount of positive feedback from travelers about their experience,” said Director of Aviation Services Chad Makovsky. “As America’s Friendliest Airport®, we take great pride in ensuring our passengers have a warm, welcoming, and positive experience. We’re constantly working to enhance our facilities to meet the evolving needs of our customers when traveling through our Airport. While our entire Airport community is experienced at welcoming visitors for major events, they exceeded my expectations as they worked tirelessly over the last year to ensure fans and visitors alike had a positive and memorable experience.”
2022 Charlotte Douglas International Airport Report of Achievement
Giving back to the community is central to what Charlotte Douglas International Airport and its operator, the City of Charlotte Aviation Department, is about, and last year was no different.
Throughout 2022, while recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, we continued our efforts to have a positive impact on the Charlotte community. Of particular note, we spent the year sharing stories of how Connections Don't Just Happen at the Terminal - from creating homeownership and employment opportunities to supporting economic growth through small-business development and offering outreach programs to help residents understand the Airport better.
This whitepaper highlights the construction projects, initiatives, programs and events that validate Charlotte Douglas as a premier airport.
Download the whitepaper: 2022 Charlotte Douglas International Airport Report of Achievement.