May 2025
90 Years at PHX: 1960s
As part of our year-long 90th anniversary celebration, we’re looking back at the previous decades in our history.
The growth of the 1950s continued into the 1960s both in terms of Phoenix’s population and expansion as well as Sky Harbor’s passenger traffic. In 1960, Sky Harbor would see 857,000 passengers that year. There was a need for a new terminal, and the official ground-breaking ceremony was held for Terminal 2. In September 1960, jet service came to Sky Harbor with American Airlines linking Phoenix daily with Chicago and New York on the Boeing 720.
By January 1961, TWA began jet service with the TWA Convair 880 jet. The airport also saw Continental Airlines begin service. Development continued at the airport with the opening of a 1,050 feet extension of the airport’s south runway. The Phoenix City Council also selected local artist Paul Coze to create a large mural for the new East Terminal (Terminal 2). Read more about Paul Coze’s “The Phoenix” mural here. This piece would become an iconic part of the airport’s history.
1962 was an exciting year for Sky Harbor as Terminal 2 was completed at a cost of $2.7 million and opened to the public in April. It included a 1,000-car parking lot, access roads, and a concrete aircraft parking ramp. The first flight to depart Terminal 2 was by Western Airlines to San Diego. This year, the airport saw the passenger traffic exceed one million for the first time ever. Sky Harbor was served by seven airlines with 66 daily scheduled flights.
“I remember how mesmerized we were when we went to see the new terminal and the mural,” said Robi K. on Facebook. “OMG! How breathtaking!! And those columns! It was almost magical!”
For many, visiting Terminal 2 was an inviting and exciting experience. It was a place to gather, a place to see your friends and family off or welcome them or just a place to watch the aircraft take off and land. City of Phoenix Aviation Department employee Allen G. has fond memories of visiting Terminal 2 with his father. They would spend time watching aircraft arrive and depart from the outdoor observation deck. Allen also said as a child, visiting Terminal 2 was fun because it had an arcade.
The following year saw the airport remodel the entrance at 24th Street. This updated entrance included lush landscaping and a fountain. Sky Harbor was the seventh busiest airport in the nation in 1963.
By 1965, the airport had 1.6 million passengers per year and saw the first DC-9 jet arrive. This was operated by Bonanza and was the nation’s first regional airline to become completely jet equipped. The airport also saw other modernizations including the approval to receive the new Terminal Radar Approach Control system (TRACON) radar equipment that maintained surveillance over aircraft in the immediate area of the airport.
In 1966, Bonanza Airlines dedicated new general offices and a maintenance facility at the airport. Sky Harbor also saw other improvements such as a new carousel type baggage conveyor, four new passenger gates at Terminal 2 and the first phase completion of general aviation facilities. Aeronaves, the national airline of Mexico, also began service from Phoenix to Mexico City.
The following year, 1967, was marked by a new passenger record as Sky Harbor saw the 10 millionth airline passenger to depart the airport since its opening in 1928. Mrs. Vern Cooper was presented with an orchid corsage by Mayor Milton Graham.
What would later make way for our volunteer Navigator Program began in 1968 with the formation of the Sky Harbor Auxiliary. This group was made up of former flight attendants who provided tours of the airport to school groups.
Throughout the 1960s, Sky Harbor also had several other notable aircraft visit including the Goodyear Blimp, the Mercury Space Capsule and a 15-passenger Ford Tri-Motor plane.
Join us next month as we look at the 1970s and the continued changes of Phoenix Sky Harbor.
**Information taken from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport the First 50 Years – Research from Pamela Jones as well as previous recorded interviews with Doug Carr.
Learn more about Phoenix’s history here.
Photo captions - Top: Terminal 2 opening in 1962; Bottom: Phoenix Mayor Graham greeting the 10 millionth passenger in 1967.
For more information on our 90th anniversary, visit https://www.skyharbor.com/90years
