Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport hit the ground running in 2024, drawing a record swell of passengers in January, a bullish signal of the airport's rapid recovery since the pandemic's downturn. Data released Feb. 29 by the Phoenix Aviation Department showed a definitive 2.2% year-over-year increase, with a grand total of 3,939,032 passengers pouring through the airport's terminals in January – numbers not witnessed since pre-Covid days – as reported by ABC15 News.

Boosting its growth trajectory, Sky Harbor also announced a fleet of new nonstop routes, including a daily flight to Tijuana, Mexico, priming the airport for even more international traffic. While Sky Harbor welcomed more wings on its runways with a 2.9% increase in landings compared to the same time last year, not all airlines shared in the ascent. Delta Air Lines bucked the trend with a 2.4% dip in passenger counts for January, as stated in a report from the Business Journal. Meanwhile, other airlines, including American and Southwest, bulged at the seams with spikes in their passenger volumes.

Frontier Airlines, recognized for its aggressive expansion at Sky Harbor, has spread its wings yet again with the announcement of 17 new routes on its network map – among them, a thrice-weekly service to Missoula, Montana. This move by Frontier reflects a remarkable 321% spike in their passenger traffic at Sky Harbor since 2019. The new Phoenix-Missoula service is all set to take off starting May 2, further cementing Frontier's position in the market.

Speaking of the expansion, Josh Flyr, Frontier's vice president of network and operations design, touted the benefits of the new routes: "We are excited to yet again expand our route map with a focus on underserved and overpriced markets as we head into spring," in a statement obtained by the Business Journal. Flyr's rhetoric underscores the airline's strategic emphasis on affordability and connectivity, providing travelers with more options for their buck.