Phoenix Sky Harbor looking to add more international destinations
Dec 21, 2017, 4:28 AM
(Facebook Photo)
(Facebook Photo)
PHOENIX — If Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport gets its way, flyers will soon have access to more international destinations from the desert.
The Phoenix Business Journal reported that the airport was hoping to use upcoming renovations and upgrades to increase its international presence.
Deborah Ostreicher, the airport’s assistant aviation director, said officials have their eyes on at least three destinations: Paris, Amsterdam and Tokyo.
“What makes a city like Tokyo so viable is not only because of the numbers, but also because of the fact that American Airlines has a hub there with Japan Airlines, and in Phoenix,” Ostreicher said. “Even if it’s only 50 people just from Phoenix who want to go, all the people that want to go from Lubbock and Santa Fe and all of the cities that American has service to can stop here.”
Paris and Amsterdam are major hubs for European airlines. Sky Harbor already offers direct flights to both London and Frankfurt, which are also major airports across the pond.
The London flights were so popular that British Airways added an additional route during the summer months.
Ostreicher told the Journal that any potential destinations would have a focus on developing business ties, not just increasing leisure travelers.
She also said more than 50 people per day would need to travel to any international destination added to make the route viable.
The airport offers 22 international flights. Of those, 19 go to Canada and Mexico and the other goes to Costa Rica.
