Flight delays in Phoenix

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport plans to close one of its three runways in early October for a month, a move that’s likely to cause flight delays during peak travel times.

The airport said the north runway will be closed Oct. 6 through Nov. 6 for construction and maintenance projects tied to an ongoing makeover to Terminal 3. That means the airport’s daily takeoffs and landings — 1,171 on average last October — will be squeezed onto the two south runways.

Airport officials say departure and arrival delays of up to 30 minutes are possible during its busiest travel times: 7: 30- 10 a. m. and 5- 8 p. m. They recommend passengers with tight flight connections contact their airlines if they are worried about missing a flight due to delays. The two busiest carriers at the Phoenix airport are American Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

The closure comes during fall break for many Arizona schools, a busy travel time for families, and at the beginning of the Phoenix area’s convention and tourism season. But it’s also timed to fall after the busy summer travel season and ahead of the holiday travel rush.

Sky Harbor said the main project during the closure will be to add power from a substation to Terminal 3.

PHOENIX SKY HARBOR A runway closure could disrupt air traffic at Phoenix Sky Harbor.