"Phoenix Sky HarborTerminal 2 redo winding down"

Monday, March 12, 2007

Terminal 2 redo winding down 
Eateries the final piece in update of Sky Harbor facility
By Ginger D. Richardson
The Arizona Republic


Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is putting the finishing touches on
a $24 million renovation to aging Terminal 2, the oldest and smallest of its
three airline-passenger terminals.

At first blush, it might seem odd that the city is sinking money into the
antiquated facility, given that it will eventually be demolished and
replaced with a much larger and more modern 33-gate terminal. 

But officials say the work, which should be wrapped up by the end of this
year, is necessary because T2, as it is known, needs to last for another
decade.

"Even though this terminal has a limited lifespan, it's only fair to our
tenants and customers that it has the same level of quality and safety
features as our other terminals," said Tamie Fisher, an acting deputy
aviation director at Sky Harbor. 

So far, the airport has swapped out carpets and tile, moved and enlarged
security checkpoints, redone the lobby, overhauled electrical and
air-conditioning systems and expanded the restrooms. In addition,
improvements have been made to the terminal's lighting, and retail shops and
food outlets are being renovated.

One of the most notable differences is in the terminal's lobby and "meet and
greet" area, where residents wait for friends and family.

Before the face lift, the space was cramped, narrow and not very well lit.
Now it's expansive and open, with ample seating.

"It was really small before," Fisher said. "People just got clogged up over
there because there wasn't room for everyone."

Terminal 2 first opened in 1962, the same year that Sky Harbor broke the 1
million-passenger mark.

In recent years, however, the terminal, while still a nostalgic favorite,
has been the subject of a growing number of complaints.

Passengers found the bathrooms small and outdated and its other amenities
paled in comparison with those of newer Terminals 3 and 4.

Today, the terminal serves about 3.2 million passengers each year and six
airlines, including Air Canada, Alaska, Continental and United. 

Some passengers using the terminal last week said they liked the changes.

Others weren't so sure.

"I like that they renovated the walkways," Maryann Krzos said. "The lobby is
nice - everyone comes through right here."

But Linda Barnes, who had just flown in, thinks the dining options still
need some work.

"You can't find any place to eat since they moved the restaurants," Barnes
said. "I would have liked to have been able to sit down instead of standing
up and just getting coffee for $4."

City officials say the restaurants are the final piece of the terminal's
face lift. Work on the last two food vendors is ongoing.

Despite the upgrades, Sky Harbor plans to raze the terminal to make way for
a much larger, more modern facility. 

But that structure, which is part of a planned $2.9 billion expansion
program during the next decade, probably won't be under construction until
2013. 

It is expected to be completed by 2016, which means that Terminal 2 will
probably be around for another six to nine years.

The city says the new building is necessary because it will give Phoenix
more gate space and allow the airport to possibly shift all of the Southwest
Airlines operations out of Terminal 4. That would alleviate congestion
there, while still giving US Airways room to expand.

The expansion, like the Terminal 2 renovation, is being paid for with a
combination of fees that the airport charges its passengers and tenant
airlines, as well as federal funds.

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