Mesa Gateway Airport: Managing High Traffic Efficiently

Mesa Gateway Airport, also known as Phoenix–Mesa Airport, is a busy international airport in southeastern Mesa, Arizona. The airport is located approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix and is a reliever airport for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Mesa Gateway Airport is a base for Allegiant Air and served nearly 2 million passengers annually as of 2019. The airport offers convenient access to the Loop 202 Santan and US 60 freeways, making it easy for travellers to connect to the Greater Phoenix area. With over 40 nonstop destinations, the airport continues to expand its services and amenities.

The airport is located in southeastern Mesa, Arizona, and is 20 miles southeast of Phoenix

Mesa Gateway Airport, also known as Phoenix–Mesa Airport, is located in southeastern Mesa, Arizona, 20 miles southeast of Phoenix. The airport is owned and operated by the Mesa Gateway Airport Authority and is a reliever airport for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. It is a base for Allegiant Air, which operates out of the Charles L. Williams Passenger Terminal. The terminal is served by Sossaman Road, which can be accessed by exiting at Hawes or Power Road, fed by the Arizona State Route Loop 202, and turning onto Ray Road.

The airport is a rapidly growing regional airport, serving nearly 2 million passengers annually. It offers convenient access to the Loop 202 Santan and US 60 freeways, providing easy connections to the Greater Phoenix area. With over 40 nonstop destinations, including new routes like Portland, Oregon, the airport continues to expand its services and amenities.

The Charles L. Williams Passenger Terminal features three rental car companies (Alamo National, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Hertz), an Arizona Highways gift shop, other retail shops, and restaurants. Hourly, daily, and economy parking lots are available adjacent to the airport, with rates starting at $9 per day for the Economy Lot and increasing to $13 per day for the Daily Lot.

Mesa Gateway Airport is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as it was previously the Williams Air Force Base. The base was shut down, and the facility reopened as Williams Gateway Airport in 1994 to relieve congestion at Sky Harbor International Airport. The runway was expanded to accommodate airliners, and the airport has since become a rapidly growing regional airport.

Mesa Gateway Airport is also known as Phoenix-Mesa Airport

Mesa Gateway Airport, also known as Phoenix-Mesa Airport, is an international airport located in southeastern Mesa, Arizona. The airport is approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix, in Maricopa County. It is owned and operated by the Mesa Gateway Airport Authority and serves as a reliever airport for the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

The history of Mesa Gateway Airport dates back to the 1940s when it was known as Williams Air Force Base. In 1994, as the air force base was being shut down, the growing air traffic at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix led to the development of an alternative airport. The facility was expanded and renamed Williams Gateway Airport, with its first flights commencing in the same year.

In 2007, the low-cost carrier Allegiant Air established a base at the airport, offering connections to 13 cities. This marked a significant milestone in the airport's history, as it transitioned into a commercial airport serving a growing number of passengers. As a result of Allegiant Air's presence, the airport became known as Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, reflecting its proximity to both Mesa and Phoenix.

Over the years, Phoenix-Mesa Airport has continued to grow and attract additional airlines. In 2015, Elite Airways announced non-stop flights from San Diego and Salt Lake City, prompting Allegiant to threaten to leave the airport due to the incentives offered to Elite. However, Allegiant ultimately remained, and in 2017, the airport welcomed its first international flights with WestJet's seasonal service to Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta.

In 2021, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway welcomed Avelo Airlines, further expanding its network. The airport also witnessed the addition of a new control tower in 2022 to accommodate the increasing air traffic. In December 2024, following Phoenix's withdrawal from the joint airport authority, the airport's name was officially changed back to Mesa Gateway Airport.

The airport is a reliever airport for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Mesa Gateway Airport, also known as Phoenix–Mesa Airport, is a reliever airport for the nearby Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. It is located in southeastern Mesa, Arizona, approximately 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Phoenix, in Maricopa County. The airport is owned and operated by the Mesa Gateway Airport Authority.

The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is served by 23 airlines flying to 89 cities in the United States and 17 cities internationally in Canada, Mexico, and Europe. The airport is located 28 miles from the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, which can be covered in a 35-minute drive.

Mesa Gateway Airport is a general aviation airport used to relieve congestion at the larger Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. It offers convenient access to the Loop 202 Santan and US 60 freeways, making it easy for travellers to connect to the Greater Phoenix area. The airport has grown rapidly and now serves nearly 2 million passengers annually, a significant increase since Allegiant Air started operations in 2007. The airport had reported 1,772,678 passenger boardings in 2019.

The airport covers 3,020 acres and has three parallel paved runways. In the year ending December 31, 2022, the airport recorded 254,599 aircraft operations, averaging 697 per day. There were 72 aircraft based at the airport, including 21 single-engine, 38 jet, and 13 helicopter aircraft. The airport has multiple parking options, with daily rates ranging from $9 to $13. A complimentary shuttle service is also provided to and from the economy lot, located south of the airfield, to the main terminal.

Allegiant Air has been offering services from the airport since October 2007

Mesa Gateway Airport, also known as Phoenix–Mesa Airport, is an international airport in southeastern Mesa, Arizona, located approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix in Maricopa County. The airport is a reliever airport for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Since Allegiant Air began operations at Mesa Gateway Airport, the number of passenger boardings has increased significantly. The airport reported 1,772,678 passenger boardings in 2019, a notable increase from the 159,481 enplanements in 2008, the first full year of Allegiant Air's service. To accommodate this growth, extensive renovations and expansions have been completed, including the addition of nearly 70,000 square feet of new space and eight gates.

Allegiant Air offers non-stop service to and from over 30 cities into Mesa Gateway Airport, providing affordable and convenient travel options. The airline offers low fares, non-stop all-jet service, and premier travel partners. Allegiant also offers complete, low-cost vacation packages, and its aircraft are configured in an all-coach layout, with select flights providing upgrade options for added legroom.

The presence of Allegiant Air at Mesa Gateway Airport has been significant in increasing air traffic to the airport. The airline's operations have contributed to the need for expansions and improvements to the airport's facilities, ensuring it can accommodate the growing number of passengers choosing to fly through Mesa.

The airport offers convenient access to the Loop 202 Santan and US 60 freeways

Mesa Gateway Airport, also known as Phoenix–Mesa Airport, is an international airport in southeastern Mesa, Arizona. It is a base for Allegiant Air and serves nearly 2 million passengers annually. The airport offers convenient road access to and from the Loop 202 Santan and US 60 freeways, which means travellers can easily connect to the Greater Phoenix area.

Loop 202, also known as the SanTan Freeway, is an Arizona State Route that runs from Phoenix to Mesa. The freeway was completed in 2006 and is particularly well-known for being featured in the 2007 film, The Kingdom, where it portrayed a Saudi Arabian superhighway. The section of the freeway that runs through Mesa is called the Red Mountain Freeway, which was completed in 2008. The freeway enters Gilbert and serves the Santan Village shopping district and the Mercy Gilbert Hospital. It then passes through Chandler, serving the Chandler Fashion Center mall.

The US 60, also known as the Superstition Freeway, meets with Loop 202 at the Red Mountain Freeway interchange in Mesa. The Superstition Freeway runs west from Mesa to Phoenix, where it meets with Interstate 10.

Mesa Gateway Airport is conveniently located off Sossaman Road, which can be accessed by exiting at Hawes Road or Power Road, both of which are fed by the Arizona State Route Loop 202. The airport offers multiple parking options, including an economy lot served by a complimentary shuttle to the main terminal.

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