Photo Credit: Robert Couse-Baker

The largest airport serving Arizona is Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport. However, over the last few decades, Tucson International Airport has increased in size and significance. Arizona also boasts a large number of domestic and regional hubs including Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, Yuma International Airport, and Prescott Municipal Airport. Southwest Airlines and US Airways are the largest carriers operating in Arizona.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Arizona’s main international air gateway currently serves more than 40 million people a year, ranking it as one of the world’s 15 busiest airports. US Airways flies to Mexico and Hawaii, and Southwest Airlines uses the facility as its hub. This large gateway connects the southwestern United States to numerous international cities including Vancouver, Mexico City, and Cancun. Flights to Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Seattle are some of the busiest domestic flights from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. There are four terminals, although Terminal 1 is no longer used. About 80 percent of connections are handled in Terminal 4 and duty-free stores, regular shopping, and a long list of restaurants are found across all terminals, in particularly Terminal 4.

Bus services from Arizona’s airport are operated by the Valley Metro network of Phoenix. The city’s light rail system doesn’t reach the airport, but it stops at 44th Street Station, which is relatively close by. A shuttle bus takes passengers from the station to the airport free of charge. Rental car companies have desks at the facility including Advantage, Fox, Budget, and Enterprise. However, making advance reservations is recommended. AAA Yellow Cab (+1-480-888-8888) and Apachi Cab (+1-480-804-1000) are two of the busiest taxi companies at the airport, with their vehicles found outside the terminals’ entrances.

Tucson International Airport

The airport serving Tucson is the second biggest air gateway into Arizona. More than four million passengers pass through the airport annually, along with a quarter of a million flight movements. There is only one large terminal, which is divided into Concourse A and Concourse B. No passenger connections leave the continental USA, but some cargo flights reach Hermosillo in Mexico. Southwest Airlines caters to the most flights at the airport, flying to half a dozen domestic cities daily including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Chicago. Restaurants and shopping facilities can be found on the third floor of the terminal.

The car rental center is located just outside the terminal. Passengers have access to nine companies offering reputable vehicles including Dollar, Enterprise, Alamo, and Avis. Alternatively, passengers can opt for public transportation to downtown Tucson, Arizona. Sun Tran bus routes 6 and 11 provide connections to the downtown area of the city and buses leave the airport every half an hour. Taxis also offer reliable transportation with AAA Airport Cabs (+1-520-299-8294), Discount Cabs (+1-520-388-9000) and Yellow Cabs (+1-520-624-6611) providing taxis from the terminal’s lower level.

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