Phoenix Sky Harbor takes next step toward demolition of Terminal 2

PHOENIX – Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport continues to move toward the eventual tearing down of Terminal 2, after recently getting approval to do so from city leaders.

The terminal, the oldest and smallest at the airport, is home to major carriers Alaska and United, along with discount airline Spirit, regional carrier Contour and commuter airline Boutique.

Those carriers will move into Terminal 3, which has been undergoing renovations and expansion since 2015. The changes had taken into account the loss of Terminal 2, so there wouldn’t be any impact There wouldn’t be any impact on “capacity and operations” after the terminal was closed, a city document said.

Demolition of Terminal 2 will take about two years, airport spokeswoman Heather Lissner said in an email Monday.

That will include the garage, which is a quick walk across the street from the terminal.

Documents filed by the city engineer, aviation department and city manager’s office said the terminal, which opened in 1962, and its associated systems had “reached their useful life.”

The concourse would come down during Phase One. A historic mural, “The Phoenix,” that takes up 75 feet of a lobby wall, will be moved during Phase 2.

It hadn’t been determined how the land and space will be used other than for “future airport growth and needs,” the email said.

A filing for the Nov. 14 council meeting also had requested approval for other terminal-demolition issues.

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