"More stores on tap for Sky Harbor's Terminal 4"

Saturday, May 8, 2004

More stores are on tap for Terminal 4
By Christine L. Romero
The Arizona Republic


Phoenix hopes to create a shopping center atmosphere at Sky Harbor
International Airport with a retail expansion.

It could cost $25 million to $26 million to overhaul Terminal 4, home to
America West and Southwest Airlines, airport officials said.

That terminal carries about 75 percent of Sky Harbor's total passenger
load, said Paul Blue, deputy aviation director. Despite the traffic
flow, Terminal 4's retail sales per passenger average less than half
those of Terminal 3. "We are leaving a lot of money on the table for the
retailers and the city," Blue said. "This is really a service issue for
our passengers."

Sky Harbor is among the nation's busiest airports, with 37.4 million
people passing through it in 2003, up 5.2 percent from the previous
year. Terminal 4 hasn't seen any changes since it was built in 1990. The
lobby will be renovated, including the ceiling, floor and restrooms.
Construction is expected to start in July and continue for 18 to 24
months, Blue said.

When the project is completed, Terminal 4 will have 47,000 square feet
of retail space. The number of stores will jump to 43 from 16 with the
upgrade.


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