Ruth Haines
Mesa, Arizona is home to several airports, including Falcon Field Airport, which has been in operation since 1941 and is owned and operated by the City of Mesa. Another airport in Mesa is the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA), which is located about 20 miles southeast of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is a medium to large multi-use airport that serves air carriers, business and general aviation, and transient military aircraft. It is also a base for Allegiant Air, which began scheduled service from Mesa in October 2007.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Mesa Gateway Airport |
| Former Name | Williams Gateway Airport |
| Location | Southeastern Mesa, Arizona |
| Distance from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport | 20 miles |
| Airport Code | IWA |
| Owner | Mesa Gateway Airport Authority |
| Operator | Mesa Gateway Airport Authority |
| Type | Medium to large multi-use airport |
| Airlines | Allegiant Air, Elite Airways, Ryan International Airlines |
| Year of Operation Start | 1941 |
| Terminal Accessibility | Sossaman Road |
| Parking | Hourly, daily, and economy lots |
| Historic Site | Williams Air Force Base |
| National Register of Historic Places | 1995 |
| Upcoming Facility | Virgin Galactic's spaceship manufacturing facility |
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What You'll Learn
Mesa Gateway Airport's location and ownership
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 accessible via the Sossaman Road exit from Arizona State Route Loop 202, followed by a turn onto Ray Road. It is served by taxis, limousines, ride-sharing services, shuttles, and public transportation, with a Valley Metro bus route 184 stop at the terminal building.
The airport is owned and operated by the Mesa Gateway Airport Authority. Previously known as Williams Gateway Airport and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, the airport's name was officially changed to Mesa Gateway Airport in December 2024 following Phoenix's withdrawal from the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority.
Mesa Gateway Airport is a medium-to-large multi-use airport that serves air carriers, business and general aviation, and transient military aircraft. It is a reliever airport for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, providing an alternative option for passengers. The airport features three long runways, with lengths of 10,400 feet, 10,200 feet, and 9,300 feet, accommodating various aircraft sizes.
The airport has a dynamic environment due to its fleet mix, and pilots are advised to listen for runway changes and use the appropriate call signs. Mesa Gateway Airport is also home to extensive flight training operations, attracting a diverse mix of aircraft and skill levels. The airport's airspace is designated as Class D, with a 3900' MSL ceiling, and it is subject to monsoons and dust storms during the summer months.
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The airport's history and previous names
Mesa Gateway Airport, also known as Phoenix–Mesa Airport, is an international airport located in southeastern Mesa, Arizona, approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix in Maricopa County. The airport 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 can be traced back to the Williams Air Force Base, which was constructed in December 1941 and included a water tower, a base flagpole, and a demountable hangar. The base was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. As the Williams Air Force Base was being shut down, the growing air traffic at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix led to the need for an alternative airport. The runway was expanded to accommodate larger aircraft, and in 1994, the facility reopened as a civilian airport named Williams Gateway Airport.
In 2004, Ryan International Airlines commenced operations at the airport, offering flights to Bullhead City International Airport in Arizona. The airport also resumed its role as a flight training centre, taking advantage of the favourable weather conditions in the region. On July 31, 2007, Allegiant Air, a low-cost carrier based in Las Vegas, announced plans to establish a focus city at the airport, connecting Phoenix with 13 other cities. This development led to a name change on October 15, 2007, when the Williams Gateway Airport Authority governing board approved renaming the airport to Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport.
Scheduled services by Allegiant Air began in October 2007, and the airport quickly gained popularity. In 2015, however, Allegiant Air threatened to leave the airport after Elite Airways introduced non-stop flights from San Diego and Salt Lake City to Phoenix–Mesa. The issue was resolved, and on January 21, 2017, Phoenix–Mesa welcomed its first international flights, with WestJet inaugurating seasonal service to Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta. The airport continued to develop, attracting companies such as Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation and Virgin Galactic, which established facilities for maintenance, repair, and the manufacturing of next-generation spaceships.
On December 17, 2024, following Phoenix's withdrawal from the joint airport authority, the board voted to officially change the airport's name to Mesa Gateway Airport, dropping "Phoenix" from its title.
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Airlines that use the airport
Mesa Gateway Airport (IATA: AZA, ICAO: KIWA, FAA LID: IWA), also known as Phoenix–Mesa Airport, is an international airport in southeastern Mesa, Arizona. The airport is located approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) in Maricopa County. Mesa Gateway Airport is a medium to large multi-use airport that serves air carriers, business and
Sun Country Airlines is another airline that operates out of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. In addition to its scheduled flights, Sun Country Airlines also offers charter services for private groups and organizations, allowing passengers to customize their travel experience.
In addition to these commercial airlines, Mesa Gateway Airport also accommodates other flight operations for general aviation, corporate, private, military, and cargo transport. The airport is also a reliever airport for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which is used to relieve congestion at the larger airport.
Mesa Gateway Airport has a dynamic environment due to its fleet mix, and it is home to extensive flight training operations. The airport has a diverse mix of aircraft capabilities, pilot experience, and skill levels. The airspace at Mesa Gateway Airport is Class D with a 3900’ MSL ceiling, and it is controlled by the IWA Control Tower.
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The airport's facilities and services
Mesa, Arizona is served by two major airports: Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and Falcon Field Airport.
The Airports' Facilities and Services
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is a medium to large multi-use airport, located approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. It is a base for Allegiant Air, which serves a variety of cities throughout the United States. 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.
The airport offers several parking options, including hourly, daily, and economy lots. The economy lot is served by a complimentary shuttle to the main terminal. The airport terminal is served by Sossaman Road, which can be accessed by exiting at either Hawes or Power Road, fed by the Arizona State Route Loop 202. There are also numerous shuttle services to local hotels, the nearby ASU Polytechnic Campus, and downtown Mesa.
The airport is home to extensive flight training operations, with a diverse mix of aircraft capabilities, pilot experience, and skill levels. It also serves air carriers, business and general aviation, and transient military aircraft. The airspace at the airport is Class D with a 3900' MSL ceiling.
The airport has a dynamic environment due to the fleet mix, and pilots should listen for runway changes and use their full call-sign or the correct form of their abbreviated call-sign. There are also multiple construction projects ongoing at the airport.
Falcon Field Airport
Falcon Field Airport is an alternative for travellers arriving in Arizona by private or corporate aircraft. It is located in Mesa, Arizona, and offers a wide variety of flights and transportation options to get around the city. Shuttle services are available to several Mesa hotels.
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Other airports in Mesa, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona, is home to several airports, including the Falcon Field Airport and the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. The Falcon Field Airport, owned and operated by the City of Mesa, has been in operation since 1941 and caters to private and corporate aircraft. It is a thriving aviation community, with many businesses and events hosted in the hangars or facilities.
The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, located in southeastern Mesa, is an international airport serving as a reliever for the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. It is a medium to large multi-use airport, accommodating air carriers, business and general aviation, and transient military aircraft. The airport is also a base for Allegiant Air, with extensive flight training operations and a dynamic environment due to the fleet mix.
The Williams Air Force Base, now part of the Mesa Gateway Airport, adds historical significance to the area. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, several structures on the base, such as the water tower, the base flagpole, and the demountable hangar, showcase the history of aviation in the region.
Additionally, Mesa is conveniently located near the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, providing easy access to and from Arizona. With a variety of transportation options, travellers can choose from numerous shuttle services, taxis, limousines, ride-shares, and more to get to their destinations in Mesa and the surrounding areas.
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Frequently asked questions
Mesa Gateway Airport, also known as Phoenix–Mesa Airport or Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
It is located in southeastern Mesa, Arizona, approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix.
The airport codes are: IATA: AZA, ICAO: KIWA, FAA LID: IWA.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation's West Coast Service Center Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, and Virgin Galactic's final assembly manufacturing facility for its next-generation Delta class spaceships.
Yes, there is also Falcon Field Airport, a general aviation airport that has been in operation since 1941.
