Phoenix Sky Harbor drops to eleventh busiest airport. (Mesa: condo, casinos)

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by cjseliga

What I've seen in the past in other airports big and small across the US is that airlines will conduct studies to see if it is viable to add a direct flight instead of routing it through a hub. They will see how many people each day are flying to destination X from destination Y, which is currently routed through destination Z, and if there's enough market/people to fill a larger plane from X sometimes an airline will add a direct flight from X to Y.

More often than not, I do tend to see city/counties/states throw money at airlines to help subsidize those direct international flights for a year or two, but once that subsidy is removed then so is the direct flight. Maybe if some large Japanese/Chinese companies base their US operations in Phoenix, then I can see the demand for direct flights to those places increasing and who knows maybe an airline out there will take a chance, but until then be ready to be routed though LAX or SFO or SEA.

That's what Phoenix needs: more of a corporate presence that helps our stance not only on a national level, but a global level as well. If this would happen, I'm sure that Sky Harbor's ranking would not only bounce back into the top 10, but we would have more overseas/Asian flights as well.

Originally Posted by Java Jolt

You obviously are not in the airline or travel business.

Airport traffic benefits local economies in many ways. People who have extended layovers spend money by staying at nearby hotels and dining at nearby restaurants.

Public transportation, cabs, and ride sharing services are profitable when people make a certain city the prime destination or have layovers there.

Having a major airline based in a particular city or MSA not only increases airport passenger numbers but provides jobs which benefits the economy.

Absolutely! Anybody who doesn't think a busy airport with multitudes of international flights doesn't benefit a city's economy is badly mistaken.

[Voebe]

Originally Posted by Java Jolt

I apologize for the less-than-positive news but this is a little worrisome. We're No. 11: Sky Harbor falls out of top 10 airport ranking

The Phoenix MSA reported one of the largest population increases in the nation but the passenger numbers are declining, how can this be?

The good news is Sky Harbor still outranks a couple larger cities in airport passenger statistics, Philadelphia and Houston.

How can it be? Well, the airport is unpleasant and inconvenient, and maybe the attractions of Phoenix aren't so attractive as claimed.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by Voebe

How can it be? Well, the airport is unpleasant and inconvenient, and maybe the attractions of Phoenix aren't so attractive as claimed.

Growth numbers and number of passengers terminating in Phoenix show you couldn't be more wrong. Flight numbers are the result of less connections being made here as AA realigns post merger. It won't take long for other airlines to fill in any open space, just watch.

Inconvenient? 5 miles from downtown accessible by a short train ride or <$10 Uber/Lyft ride? Same story with downtown Tempe. Very few other cities offer that level of convenience.

[Java Jolt]

Originally Posted by Voebe

How can it be? Well, the airport is unpleasant and inconvenient, and maybe the attractions of Phoenix aren't so attractive as claimed.

Sky Harbor is one of the better major airports for convenience, centrally located and good transportation options.

The only frustrating thing about Sky Harbor is the separate terminals but the skytrain has reduced that inconvenience.

Maybe you can elaborate on what Phoenix attractions are unattractive.

[AZLiam]

There is another article on PHX Business Journal addressing this; however, it is behind a paywall.

This week, the City Council will vote on the airport’s three-year proposal to increase international marketing funds, allow fee waivers and institute a new credit for airlines that start service to unserved or underserved markets.

Target cities include Montreal; Monterrey, Mexico; Tokyo; Beijing; Shanghai; Frankfurt, Germany; Paris; Rome; and Sao Paolo, Brazil.

Phoenix Sky Harbor Trying To Attract More International Flights | KJZZ

[cjseliga]

Originally Posted by AZLiam

Phoenix Sky Harbor Trying To Attract More International Flights | KJZZ

I mentioned this previously in the thread, while it's nice city/counties/states throw money at airlines to help subsidize those direct international flights for a year or two or maybe longer, once that subsidy (tax credit) is removed then so is the direct flight, more often than not.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by cjseliga

I mentioned this previously in the thread, while it's nice city/counties/states throw money at airlines to help subsidize those direct international flights for a year or two or maybe longer, once that subsidy (tax credit) is removed then so is the direct flight, more often than not.

Yes, it's all about the demand. As much as I'd like to see more international/overseas flights, subsidies, tax credits, etc. aren't the way to do it. Phoenix as a city & metro region needs to work on increasing its attractiveness as a global market destination. If we had more international corporate HQs here, as well as possibly more tourist attractions which attract people from around the world, Sky Harbor would automatically have more direct flights to Asia & beyond.

[ajonesaz]

Originally Posted by Voebe

How can it be? Well, the airport is unpleasant and inconvenient, and maybe the attractions of Phoenix aren't so attractive as claimed.

Service wise, Sky Harbor always ranks near the top in the country. If you think it is unpleasant or inconvenient, apparently you don't travel much. Most of the airports listed for busy traffic are a result of connecting flights, so it has little to do with local attractions. Do you really think that many people are clamoring to vacation in Atlanta?

Why do we care about airport traffic and why would we want to increase our connecting flights anyways?

[Java Jolt]

Originally Posted by ajonesaz

Service wise, Sky Harbor always ranks near the top in the country. If you think it is unpleasant or inconvenient, apparently you don't travel much. Most of the airports listed for busy traffic are a result of connecting flights, so it has little to do with local attractions. Do you really think that many people are clamoring to vacation in Atlanta?

Why do we care about airport traffic and why would we want to increase our connecting flights anyways?

Anyways?

I explained upthread why we should care about airport traffic and connecting flights, and here is what I wrote.

Originally Posted by Java Jolt

You obviously are not in the airline or travel business.

Airport traffic benefits local economies in many ways. People who have extended layovers spend money by staying at nearby hotels and dining at nearby restaurants.

Public transportation, cabs, and ride sharing services are profitable when people make a certain city the prime destination or have layovers there.

Having a major airline based in a particular city or MSA not only increases airport passenger numbers but provides jobs which benefits the economy.

[AZLiam]

Air Canada will launch seasonal flights between Montreal and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

The flights will start next February and run until May. They will operate three days a week.

Air Canada launching Montreal flights to Phoenix - Phoenix Business Journal