Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport set passenger records in March

PHOENIX — There was a lot going on in March around the Valley and that brought record crowds through Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

A record-setting 5,128,429 passengers came through the airport, passing the previous record by 1.27% set in March 2024, according to a press release.

In addition to the record-setting month, March 8 set its own record for the most passengers (86,250) screened at the airport in a single day.

“March’s record number of travelers at Sky Harbor points to something greater — Phoenix is a world-class destination with a world-class airport,” Mayor Kate Gallego said in the release. “With events including the women’s NCAA Final Four, Cactus League Spring Training, and the M3F Music Festival, the Valley was the place to be! The staff at America’s Friendliest Airport — especially the TSA agents who were at times seeing delays in pay — made it all possible.”

Here are more statistics from the airport’s record-setting month:

• 1,520 takeoffs and landings (1,335 on an average day)
• Average wait time at TSA security checkpoints of 7 minutes, 24 seconds
• 38,706 checked bags
• Nearly 9,800 rental car returns and 6,860 rental car pickups
• 59,702 people rode the PHX Sky Train (daily average for 2026 is 45,610)
• 22,469 total rideshare pickups and drop-offs
• 1,000 taxi pickups and drop-offs

There were more than 51.6 million people who traveled through the airport in 2025, and passenger traffic is up 2.3% year-to-date. Last year was the second time ever that Phoenix Sky Harbor had surpassed 50 million passengers, the release said.

The airport has an economic impact of more than $44 billion annually and services about 1,300 aircraft and 140,000 passengers each day. In addition, Phoenix Sky Harbor is fully funded through its revenue. There are no tax dollars used to support it.

“(The record-breaking March) shows it’s not just huge major event weekends that are attracting record levels of passengers to PHX, and it reinforces the needs for us to continue to work to enhance and expand our facilities,” Aviation Director Chad Makovsky said. “Together, our airport teams work to help ensure visitors have a positive, welcoming experience and want to come back to Phoenix again.”

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