JOHN MCCAIN HONORED

‘Very, very humbled,’ says wife of late senator

Cindy McCain unveiled a plaque honoring her late husband, Sen. John S. McCain III, Tuesday morning at Sky Harbor International Airport’s newly renovated Terminal 3, which is named after the senator.

“Today, we unveil the plaque honoring Senator McCain that will hang in this terminal and play a small part in keeping his great legacy alive for generations to come,” said Mayor Kate Gallego said, who stood alongside Cindy McCain for the unveiling.

Sky Harbor recently completed the renovations of Terminal 3, and the

North Concourse is set to open Feb. 3. The terminal’s South Concourse was completed in March 2019.

The plaque honoring McCain will be placed on the first floor of the terminal, Gallego said.

Cindy McCain became emotional when talking about her husband, who she said loved aviation and would have loved to see the completion of the terminal.

When Sen. McCain found out about the Terminal being named after him, he was “very, very humbled by it,” Cindy McCain said.

The $590 million renovation project is completed by the opening of the North Concourse.

The concourse will hold 10 gates, local restaurants such as Scrambled and Ajo Al’s, shops to buy local Arizona gifts, an upgraded nursing room and petrelief station.

Jim Bennett, director of aviation for City of Phoenix, said the concourse features new skylights and windows that “offer breathtaking views of the Arizona scenery.” The natural light also helps the airport be more energy efficient.

United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Contour Airlines and Boutique Air will operate out of the North Concourse, Bennett said.

Terminal 2 will close on February 4, and those airlines will be moving over to Terminal 3, he said.

The completion of the project will help Sky Harbor improve service to a growing number of customers. Sky Harbor again broke an all-time record for passenger traffic, serving more than 46.3 million passengers in 2019, Gallego said.

“We hope that today Phoenix is a bright moment in a complicated time for our country,” Gallego said.

Cindy McCain gazes at a plaque honoring her late husband, Sen. John McCain. Phoenix Sky Harbor’s Terminal 3 was renamed for McCain.

PHOTOS BY DARRYL WEBB/SPECIAL FOR THE REPUBLIC Cindy McCain shows a new plaque Tuesday honoring her late husband at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport’s John S. McCain III Terminal 3. At the podium is Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego.

People make their way along the newly renovated North Concourse at John S. McCain III Terminal 3 of Sky Harbor International Airport.