
Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA) is a medium-to-large multi-use airport located approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix, Arizona. The airport is a reliever airport for the nearby Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and is used by air carriers, business and general aviation, and transient military aircraft.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Mesa Gateway Airport |
| Airport Codes | IWA, AZA, KIWA |
| Location | Southeastern Mesa, Arizona, US |
| Distance from Phoenix | 20 miles |
| Owner | Mesa Gateway Airport Authority |
| Operator | Mesa Gateway Airport Authority |
| Airlines | Allegiant Air, WestJet, Swoop |
| Number of Runways | 3 |
| Length of Runways | 10,401 ft, 10,201 ft, 9,300 ft |
| Number of Gates | 10 |
| Number of Parking Spaces | 10,500 (planned) |
| Number of Enplanements | 1,772,678 (2019) |
| Number of Based Aircraft | 72 |
| Aircraft Operations | 254,599 (2022) |
| Tower Hours of Operation | 0500L to 0000L |
| Administrative Office Hours | 0730L to 1530L, Monday to Friday |
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What You'll Learn

Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA) is located 20 miles southeast of Phoenix
Mesa Gateway Airport was 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 acquired by the US military in 1948 and became known as Williams Air Base, serving as a flight-training field and the first jet training base in the country. In 1966, it was the site of the inaugural Undergraduate Pilot Training program.
The airport covers 3,020 acres and has a diverse mix of aircraft, pilot experience, and skill levels. It is home to extensive flight training operations and has a busy air traffic control tower. In 2022, the airport recorded 254,599 aircraft operations, averaging 697 per day. The majority of these operations were general aviation (80%), followed by air taxi (14%), airline (5%), and military (2%).
Mesa Gateway Airport has experienced significant growth in recent years, particularly since Allegiant Air began operations in 2007. To accommodate this growth, the airport has undergone renovations and expansions, adding new gates and planning for future development. The Gateway 2030 plan outlines a phased approach to expanding the airport's capacity, with the ultimate goal of handling 10 million enplanements (20 million passengers) annually by 2030 or beyond.
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IWA is a medium-to-large multi-use airport
Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA) is a medium-to-large multi-use airport located in southeastern Mesa, Arizona, approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). The airport covers 3,020 acres of land and has three long, parallel paved runways that can accommodate any size of aircraft. The runways have the following dimensions:
- 12C/30C: 10,201 ft x 150 ft (3,109 m x 46 m), asphalt/concrete
- 12L/30R: 9,300 ft x 150 ft (2,835 m x 46 m), concrete
- 12R/30L: 10,401 ft x 150 ft (3,170 m x 46 m), concrete
IWA serves a variety of purposes, 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 airport reported 1,772,678 passenger boardings in 2019, and in the year ending December 31, 2022, it recorded 254,599 aircraft operations, averaging 697 per day.
The airport is owned and operated by the Mesa Gateway Airport Authority and serves as a reliever airport for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. It is a base for airlines such as Allegiant Air, WestJet, and Swoop, offering services to approximately 50 locations across the United States. The growth of the airport has led to the need for expansion, with the Gateway 2030 plan outlining the development of approximately 700 acres of airport property.
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It is home to extensive flight training operations
Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA) is a medium-to-large multi-use airport located approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix, Arizona. 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 covers 3,020 acres and has three parallel paved runways. In the year ending December 31, 2022, the airport recorded 254,599 aircraft operations, with an average of 697 per day. 80% of these operations were general aviation, 14% were air taxi, 5% were airline, and 2% were military.
The airport's flight training operations benefit from the unique desert climate of the region, which provides numerous opportunities to complete flight training ahead of or on schedule. The area offers exceptional weather, with over 340 days of sunshine and warm weather annually. This enables students to gain real-world knowledge and retain their skills through focused and continuous training throughout the year.
The airport has a long history of flight training, dating back to its time as Williams Field during World War II. It became the first jet training base in 1948 and, in 1966, it was the inaugural site of the Undergraduate Pilot Training program. Today, the airport continues to be a hub for flight training, with the Phoenix Flight Academy and AeroGuard Flight Training Center offering programs for aspiring pilots.
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The airport has three runways and can accommodate any size aircraft
Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA) is located approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix, Arizona. The airport is a medium to large multi-use airport that serves air carriers, business and general aviation, and transient military aircraft. With a rich history dating back to 1941, the airport has undergone various name changes and expansions over the years.
Mesa Gateway Airport features three runways, each with impressive lengths: 10,400 ft, 10,200 ft, and 9,300 ft. These runways enable the airport to accommodate any size of aircraft. The runways are designated as 12C/30C, 12L/30R, and 12R/30L, respectively. The airport's vast expanse covers 3,020 acres, providing ample space for aviation operations.
The airport's capacity and infrastructure make it an attractive alternative to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Allegiant Air, WestJet, and Swoop utilize Mesa Gateway Airport to serve passengers to and from approximately 50 locations across the United States. The airport also handles a significant volume of general aviation, air taxi, airline, and military aircraft movements.
Mesa Gateway Airport has experienced substantial growth in passenger numbers and aircraft operations over the years. To accommodate this growth, the airport has undergone extensive renovations and expansions. The Gateway 2030 plan, developed in 2012, outlines a phased approach to enhance the airport's capacity and infrastructure. This includes the addition of new pier terminals, gates, parking spaces, and other facilities to meet the increasing demand for air travel in the region.
With its three runways, extensive development area, and ability to accommodate any size of aircraft, Mesa Gateway Airport is well-equipped to handle a diverse range of aviation operations and continues to play a crucial role in serving the aviation needs of the Phoenix region and beyond.
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IWA is owned and operated by the Mesa Gateway Airport Authority
Mesa Gateway Airport, also known as Phoenix-Mesa Airport, is located in southeastern Mesa, Arizona, approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The airport is owned and operated by the Mesa Gateway Airport Authority.
The airport is a medium to large multi-use airport that serves 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 experiences, and skill levels. The airspace at IWA is Class D with a 3900' MSL ceiling.
IWA has a dynamic environment due to its fleet mix, and pilots should listen for runway changes and use their full call sign or the correct form of their abbreviated call sign. The airport also has several construction projects underway, and pilots should check NOTAMs for updates. Parking is located on the west side of the airport, but this does not guarantee a specific runway for departure or arrival. Pilots should listen for their actual runway clearance and ask for clarification if needed.
Mesa Gateway 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. The airport also experienced a significant increase in passengers since Allegiant Air started operations in 2007. To accommodate this growth, the airport has undergone extensive renovations and expansions, adding nearly 70,000 square feet of new space and eight gates.
The airport has future expansion plans, including the addition of another pier terminal, more gates, parking spaces, and taxiways. These expansions will enable the airport to handle a significantly larger number of enplanements and passengers annually.
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Frequently asked questions
Mesa Gateway Airport, also known as Phoenix-Mesa Airport, is located in southeastern Mesa, Arizona, approximately 20 miles southeast of Phoenix.
The airport was built in 1941 as Higley Field and was renamed Williams Field in 1942, in honour of First Lieutenant Charles Linton Williams. In 1948, it was acquired by the US military and renamed Williams Air Base. The airport was then renamed Mesa Gateway Airport and has been serving as a reliever airport for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA) has three long runways and can accommodate aircraft of any size. The airport is home to extensive flight training operations and serves air carriers, business and general aviation, and transient military aircraft. It is also the base for airlines such as Allegiant Air, WestJet, and Swoop, offering flights to around 50 destinations across the US.











































