How did Sky Harbor get its name? Why the Phoenix airport is called that

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is one of the 10 busiest airports in the United States and it consistently ranks among the best U.S. airports .

The Wall Street Journal named Sky Harbor the best airport in the country in 2023 , and it ranked strongly for on-time performance and customer experience in a study released in July 2024.

But have you ever wondered how this major travel hub got its distinctive name? The story behind the name Sky Harbor is a fascinating glimpse into the history and vision of early aviation pioneers who aimed to create a premier gateway to the skies.

Here's why the Phoenix airport is named Sky Harbor.

How did Sky Harbor get its name?

Sky Harbor certainly sounds like a fitting name for an airport situated in the middle of a desert.

The name was coined by J. Parker Van Zandt, the owner of Scenic Airways, who arrived in Phoenix in 1928 seeking a base for his company. Van Zandt purchased 278 acres of cotton fields east of 24th Street and south of the Southern Pacific railroad tracks and transformed them into a landing field.

According to Michael Jones , a Phoenix Aviation Department employee who wrote a history of the airport, "By February of 1929, the airport was officially titled Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Whether the name came from a desire by Scenic to name all its airports Sky Harbor or by the idea of a 'harbor' for aircraft, no one knows for sure."

Initially owned by Van Zandt , the Phoenix airport changed hands several times. It was sold to a group of local investors known as Acme Investments Co. in the early 1930s. In 1934, Acme leased Sky Harbor Airport to Maricopa County , but the county withdrew from the deal a year later. Facing financial challenges, Acme then pressured Phoenix to buy the airport.

The city initially was reluctant to buy the airport. A significant turning point came when American Airlines, which had been using Sky Harbor since 1930, threatened to discontinue its passenger and air-mail services there if the city did not take over.

This ultimatum led the city to buy the airport for $100,000 in July 1935. The acquisition ensured the continued operation and development of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, solidifying its role as a significant driver of Arizona's economy.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How did Sky Harbor get its name? Why the Phoenix airport is called that