
Mesa Gateway Airport, also known as Phoenix–Mesa Airport, is an international airport in southeastern Mesa, Arizona. The airport's FAA LID code is IWA, while its IATA code is AZA. The airport is located approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and is a reliever airport for it.
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What You'll Learn
- Mesa Gateway Airport is located in southeastern Mesa, Arizona, 20 miles southeast of Phoenix
- The airport is home to extensive flight training operations and serves air carriers, business and general aviation, and transient military aircraft
- The FAA code for the airport is IWA, while the IATA code is AZA
- The airport is owned and operated by the Mesa Gateway Airport Authority and is a base for Allegiant Air
- The airport has seen significant growth in passenger numbers since Allegiant Air began operations, leading to renovations and expansions to accommodate this increase

Mesa Gateway Airport is located in southeastern Mesa, Arizona, 20 miles southeast of Phoenix
Mesa Gateway Airport, also known as Phoenix–Mesa Airport, is located in southeastern Mesa, Arizona, approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix, in Maricopa County. The airport is a medium to large multi-use airport, serving air carriers, business and general aviation, and transient military aircraft. It is also home to extensive flight training operations, with a diverse mix of aircraft capabilities, pilot experience, and skill levels.
The airport's FAA code is IWA, while the IATA code is AZA. The airport was originally built in 1941 as Higley Field and has undergone several name changes throughout its history. It was renamed Williams Field in 1942 in honour of First Lieutenant Charles Linton Williams, an Arizona native who served in the 19th Pursuit Squadron during World War II. The airport was then acquired by the US military in 1948 and became Williams Air Base, serving as a flight-training field and the first jet training base.
Mesa Gateway Airport is a reliever airport for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, providing relief to congestion at the larger airport. It is owned and operated by the Mesa Gateway Airport Authority and serves as a base for Allegiant Air. The airport has seen significant growth in passenger numbers since Allegiant Air began operations, with extensive renovations and expansions completed to accommodate the increasing passenger traffic.
The airport's development plan, Gateway 2030, outlines a four-phase approach to accommodate the growing number of passengers. Phase one includes infrastructure development for a new terminal, access roads, parking, taxiways, and aprons capable of accommodating larger aircraft. The new terminal will have 14 gates and will be able to accommodate 3 million passengers. Phase two will add another pier terminal, more gates, and parking spaces, while phase three will focus on privately owned commercial developments. Phase four, expected to be undertaken beyond 2030, will enable the airport to handle 10 million enplanements annually, with a total of 60 gates and ample parking spaces.
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The airport is home to extensive flight training operations and serves air carriers, business and general aviation, and transient military aircraft
Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA) is a medium to large multi-use airport located approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). It serves air carriers, business and general aviation, and transient military aircraft.
Mesa Gateway Airport is home to extensive flight training operations, with a diverse mix of aircraft capabilities, pilot experience, and skill levels. The airport features both the Cessna 172 and Piper Seminole aircraft as part of its training program. The flight training centre offers an Admissions Flight, where an instructor guides prospective students through each manoeuvre, allowing them to take the controls and experience flying first-hand. The Airline Career Pilot Program at Mesa Gateway Airport offers the industry-leading resources and flight training required to become an airline pilot in a fixed period at a fixed cost.
The airport's airspace is Class D with a 3900' MSL ceiling. It underlies Phoenix Class B airspace, which begins at various altitudes over the IWA Class D airspace. The airport has a dynamic environment due to its fleet mix, and pilots are advised to listen for runway changes and use their full or correct abbreviated call-signs. Mesa Gateway Airport has seen significant growth in recent years, with extensive renovations and expansions completed to accommodate increasing passenger numbers.
Mesa Gateway Airport has a long history, dating back to its construction in 1941 as Higley Field. It was renamed Williams Field in 1942, in honour of First Lieutenant Charles Linton Williams, who was killed while serving in the Pacific Ocean in 1927. The airport has strong military ties, having been acquired by the US military and renamed Williams Air Base in 1948. It served as a flight-training field during World War II and became the first jet training base in 1948. The base closed in 1993, following a recommendation by the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Commission.
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The FAA code for the airport is IWA, while the IATA code is AZA
The airport with the code IWA is Mesa Gateway Airport, located in southeastern Mesa, Arizona, approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix, in Maricopa County. The airport is a medium to large multi-use airport, serving air carriers, business and general aviation, and transient military aircraft. It is also home to extensive flight training operations, with a diverse mix of aircraft capabilities, pilot experience, and skill levels.
Mesa Gateway Airport, also known as Phoenix-Mesa Airport, was built in 1941 as Higley Field and has undergone several name changes. It serves as a reliever airport for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which is located about 20 miles away. The airport is owned and operated by the Mesa Gateway Airport Authority and is a base for Allegiant Air.
The airport has experienced significant growth in passenger numbers since Allegiant Air began operations, leading to renovations and expansions to accommodate this increase. The Gateway 2030 plan outlines a four-phase development approach to enhance the airport's infrastructure and supporting city infrastructure.
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The airport is owned and operated by the Mesa Gateway Airport Authority and is a base for Allegiant Air
Mesa Gateway Airport, with the code IWA, is owned and operated by the Mesa Gateway Airport Authority. The airport is located in southeastern Mesa, Arizona, approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix, in Maricopa County. It was built in 1941 as Higley Field and has since been renamed several times, including Williams Field in 1942 and Williams Air Base in 1948. The airport serves a variety of aircraft, including air carriers, business and general aviation, and transient military aircraft. It is also home to extensive flight training operations, with a diverse mix of aircraft capabilities, pilot experience, and skill levels.
The Mesa Gateway Airport Authority manages the airport's operations, including infrastructure development and maintenance, air traffic control, and customer services. They are responsible for ensuring the airport's facilities meet the needs of airlines and passengers, such as Allegiant Air, which has its base at the airport. Allegiant Air's presence at the airport has significantly contributed to the increase in passenger numbers. The airline began scheduled services from Mesa in October 2007, and the airport reported 1,772,678 passenger boardings in 2019.
The airport has undergone several expansions to accommodate the growing number of passengers. In 2013, the airport initiated an expansion plan to increase the number of gates and enhance facilities. The Gateway 2030 plan, outlined by the airport, aims to develop approximately 700 acres of airport property and supporting city infrastructure. This plan is expected to cost more than $1.4 billion and will be implemented in four phases, with the first phase addressing the infrastructure for a new terminal, access roads, parking, and taxiways.
Mesa Gateway Airport is a dynamic environment due to its fleet mix, and pilots need to be aware of runway changes. The airspace at IWA is Class D with a 3900' MSL ceiling, and it underlies Phoenix Class B airspace. The airport's tower hours of operation are 0500L to 0000L, and the administrative office is open from 0730L to 1530L, Monday through Friday. The airport also provides business phone services for added convenience.
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The airport has seen significant growth in passenger numbers since Allegiant Air began operations, leading to renovations and expansions to accommodate this increase
Mesa Gateway Airport, with the code IWA (or AZA for commercial passenger flights), has seen a notable increase in passenger numbers since Allegiant Air commenced operations in October 2007. This growth has spurred a series of renovations and expansions to cater to the rising passenger traffic.
Located in southeastern Mesa, Arizona, approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix, the airport serves as a reliever for the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Allegiant Air, which is based at the airport, has contributed significantly to the airport's increasing popularity.
In its first year of operations, Allegiant Air witnessed a remarkable surge in passenger numbers, climbing from 14,588 enplanements in 2007 to 159,481 in 2008. This rapid growth posed a challenge, as the existing facilities became crowded and strained. In response, the airport administration embarked on extensive renovations and expansions of the west side terminal, adding nearly 70,000 square feet of new space. This expansion, completed in 1994, increased the number of gates from two to ten.
The Gateway 2030 plan outlines a four-phase approach to accommodate the growing demand and ensure the airport's long-term success. Phase one focuses on infrastructure development for a new terminal, including access roads, parking, taxiways, and aprons capable of accommodating larger aircraft. With an investment of over $1.4 billion, the new terminal will feature 14 gates, catering to 12 Group III and two Group IV aircraft.
Phase two, although not yet fully planned, will involve adding another pier terminal, increasing the number of gates, and providing additional parking spaces. Phase three will shift the focus to privately owned retail, office, and hotel buildings on airport property. Finally, phase four, anticipated for 2030 or beyond, will enable the airport to handle 10 million enplanements annually, with a total of 60 gates and ample parking spaces for 21,000 vehicles.
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Frequently asked questions
Mesa Gateway Airport, also known as Phoenix-Mesa Airport, is the airport with the code IWA.
Mesa Gateway Airport is located in southeastern Mesa, Arizona, approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix, in Maricopa County.
The airport was built in 1941 as Higley Field and was renamed Williams Field in 1942 in honor of First Lieutenant Charles Linton Williams. In 1948, it was acquired by the US military and renamed Williams Air Base. The airport changed hands again in 1993, eventually becoming the Mesa Gateway Airport.











































