Changes, Honors and an Incredible Team of Employees

The past year has brought with it many challenges and changes to industries across the board. The aviation industry has been no exception.

March 2020 started like a regular, active month. The airport terminals were bustling, and we were welcoming many visitors to the state. But by mid-month, the country saw travel bans, event cancelations, and the temporary shutdown of some businesses. Passenger traffic plummeted in April.

Phoenix Sky Harbor launched the PHX Here for You campaign to showcase the efforts of the airport to keep travelers and employees safe. Signage was installed throughout the airport system — Phoenix Sky Harbor International, Phoenix Deer Valley, and Phoenix Goodyear airports — to remind customers to wear a facial covering and practice physical distancing.

The robust sanitation schedule that was put into place at the beginning of the pandemic has remained. High traffic areas are thoroughly cleaned several times a day. Last summer, Phoenix Sky Harbor added UV-C LED lighting to several escalators in the terminals. These lights serve to sanitize handrails around-the-clock.

In addition to the installation of plexiglass and updates to the air filtration system, Phoenix Sky Harbor has also looked for ways to make operations more touchless for travelers. This includes the recent launch of a new interactive map on skyharbor.com that allows travelers to use their phone to find what they are looking for and get wayfinding directions to the location. Looking for gluten-free food, an airport lounge, or PPE? That information is available at your fingertips.

Additionally, all three airports recently received the Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s GBAC STAR™ facility accreditation. This program is one of the industry’s top honors and is an outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation for facilities. Facilities must demonstrate that they have established and maintained a cleaning and disinfecting program to minimize risks of infectious diseases; have employed the proper protocols to clean and disinfect facilities; and have staff who are trained for outbreak and infectious disease preparation and response. Phoenix Deer Valley and Phoenix Goodyear airports are the first general aviation airports in the country to receive this accreditation. Last summer, Phoenix Sky Harbor added UV-C LED lighting to several escalators in the terminals. These lights serve to sanitize handrails around-the-clock. This honor, as well as the continued operations of the three airports, are a result of all of the employees who continued to tirelessly work to ensure safe, secure and friendly operations. From the facilities teams who have overseen robust cleaning schedules and installation of hundreds of signs, to the operations staff who assist passengers on the curbs, to the airline employees, the cargo operators, the public safety and security employees, and concessions staff, the number of essential workers and dedicated employees is too many to name here. But their efforts have been vital to the airports’ operations and ability to continue to deliver exceptional service. We thank them. And, since April, Phoenix Sky Harbor has seen a gradual increase in passenger numbers month over month. The airport has also seen airlines add new, nonstop service to destinations not previously served and routes that were temporarily suspended due to the pandemic restored. For the latest information about what travelers can expect as well as airport news, visit skyharbor.com