Apr. 28, 2025

Volunteers Celebrated with Week of Their Own

Open house also planned for teens to become Navigators for summer

PHOENIX – America’s Friendliest Airport^® earned its moniker with the help of the volunteer Navigators and their collegial spirit. Phoenix Sky Harbor is letting them know how much they’re appreciated.

Volunteer Appreciation Week will be recognized May 1-7 and our many volunteers will be celebrated with Kentucky Derby-themed festivities, including decorated Information Counters, flight information displays changed to purple—the color of the volunteers—and VIPs shadowing a Navigator as they assist passengers in the terminals. Volunteers will also get special snacks and gifts of appreciation during the weeklong festivities.

The Teen Navigator Volunteer Program, a relatively new branch of the Phoenix Sky Harbor volunteer corps, will hold an open house May 13, 2025, from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at the Aviation Department, 2485 E. Buckeye Road. There are 100 spots available, and students can register via QR code on the accompanying flyer.

The open house is an excellent opportunity for local high school students age 14 and older to learn about working alongside an experienced Navigator for eight weeks during the summer.

The Navigator program, which celebrates is 25th anniversary this year, began in November 2000 as an initiative to offer passengers directions and information inside the busy airport terminals. Since then, they have expanded their realm to assist with tours and with community outreach, and act as support guides. More than 1,600 Navigator volunteers have donated about 1.6 million hours to assist passengers and visitors since the program’s inception 25 years ago. To date this year, more than 357 volunteers have contributed 18,220 hours of service.

Other volunteer programs at Phoenix Sky Harbor include the Navigator Buddies, a therapy dog program for travelers to pet an accredited therapy dog and relieve their stress, and Navigator Chaplains, who offer solace and spiritual guidance to people seeking religious comfort.

To learn more about the Teen Navigator open house, the Phoenix Sky Harbor Navigators, or to start volunteering as yourself, visit skyharbor.com/volunteer.

Note for Media:

If you would like to interview a Navigator or shadow a Navigator, please let us know at skyharborpio@phoenix.gov.

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Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, America’s Friendliest Airport^®, has an annual economic impact of more than $44 billion. On an average day, approximately 1,000 aircraft and more than 130,000 passengers arrive at and depart from Phoenix Sky Harbor every day. PHX Sky Harbor is funded with airport revenue. No tax dollars are used to support the airport.

Celebrating 90 Years of Ownership by the City of Phoenix