As per a press release from the airport authorities, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) will close one of its three runways for maintenance the first weekend in November. Runway 7R/25L will be closed to air traffic starting at 10 p.m. on Friday, November 1st, until 7 a.m. on Monday, November 4th.

The airport says that it has been in touch with the FAA with regards to the maintenance work and has worked with the airlines to cause as little passenger disruption as possible. After studying flights and passenger numbers, the weekend of the 1st and 4th of November was concluded as being the best possible time to complete the work.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has instructed airlines using the Arizona airport to give passengers as much notice as possible and to inform them that the runway's closure could cause delays. During the maintenance work, Sky Harbors' north and south runways will be operating as normal.

Why is the runway being shut down?

Besides routine maintenance like the removal of rubber build-up, concrete repairs and runway paint markings, runway 7R/25L is getting new lights.

PHX airport
Delays are expected Saturday, November 2nd between 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Photo: Xnatedawgx Wikipedia

Preventative electrical maintenance will take place inside the runway safety area, while the runway gets fitted out with a new energy-efficient LED lighting system. All cabling connecting the new runway lights will also be changed at the same time the new lights are installed.

What do travelers need to know?

The south runway 7R/25L that is being closed for the weekend is primarily an arrivals runway and as such its closure could cause delays during peak hours of operation.

PHX airport tower
The runway new energy-efficient LED lighting system. Photo: ZHoover123 Wikipedia.

The time most likely to be affected is on Saturday, November 2nd between 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Any passenger catching a connecting flight during this time should contact the airline they are flying with if they are afraid they might not have enough time to make their connection.

As for passengers departing out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport or drivers picking up passengers from an arriving flight, the airport recommends you check the status of the flight before coming to the airport.

Phoenix is a major hub for American Airlines and a base for Southwest Airlines

American Airlines is the largest of all the airlines flying to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport transporting 20.7 million passengers in 2018. For the first four months of 2019, the passenger count has gone up 1.5% compared to the same period in 2018.

American airlines at PHX
American is the biggest airline at Sky Harbor. Photo: Quintin Soloviev Wikipedia

Having just introduced new flights to the Midwest this year American is marketing Phoenix and a destination and not just a hub.

Southwest airlines are the number two airline behind American Airlines at Sky Harbor with more than 170 non-stop flights per day.

From Phoenix, Southwest flies to 50 cities averaging 10 flights a day from each of its gates. The Dallas based carrier is committed to Sky Harbor building a new eight-gate concourse that is due to open in less than two years’ time.