
IWA is the abbreviation for Williams-Gateway Airport, now known as Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. The airport is located in Mesa, Arizona, and is classified as a non-hub airport by the FAA. The aviation community generally uses the FAA code of IWA, while commercial passenger flight organizations use the IATA code of AZA.
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What You'll Learn
- IWA is the acronym for Williams-Gateway Airport, now known as Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport
- The airport is located in Mesa, Arizona, and is classified as a non-hub airport
- The FAA code for the airport is IWA, while the IATA code is AZA
- The airport was built in 1941 as Higley Field and renamed Williams Field in 1942
- The Gateway 2030 plan outlines the development of airport property and supporting infrastructure

IWA is the acronym for Williams-Gateway Airport, now known as Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport
The airport was built in 1941 as Higley Field and was renamed Williams Field in 1942 in honour of First Lieutenant Charles Linton Williams, an Arizona native who served with the 19th Pursuit Squadron during World War II. In 1948, the airport was acquired by the US military and became Williams Air Base, the first jet training base in the country. It also served as a flight-training field during the war.
In 1993, the base was closed, and the airport was renamed Mesa Gateway Airport. The airport is owned and operated by the Mesa Gateway Airport Authority and serves as a reliever airport for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Allegiant Air, which began operations at the airport in October 2007, has contributed significantly to the airport's growth in passenger numbers.
The Gateway 2030 plan is a development strategy for the airport, aiming to accommodate increasing passenger numbers. The plan includes the construction of a new terminal, additional gates, taxiways, aprons, parking, and other supporting infrastructure. With an estimated cost of over $1.4 billion, the plan is expected to enable the airport to handle up to 10 million enplanements annually by its completion in 2030 or beyond.
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The airport is located in Mesa, Arizona, and is classified as a non-hub airport
IWA stands for Williams-Gateway Airport, which is now known as Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport. The airport is located in Mesa, Arizona, and is classified as a non-hub airport by the FAA. The airport is situated 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 Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
The history of the airport dates back to 1941 when it was built as Higley Field. The following year, it was renamed Williams Field in honour of First Lieutenant Charles Linton Williams, an Arizona native who served in the 19th Pursuit Squadron during World War II. The airport has undergone several name changes and transitions over the years. In 1948, it was acquired by the US military and became Williams Air Base, the first jet training base in the country. It played a significant role in flight training during World War II and, in 1966, it became the inaugural site for the Undergraduate Pilot Training program.
However, the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended the base be closed, and it ceased operations in 1993. The airport was then established in its current form in 1994, continuing to use the IWA code. Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport has experienced significant growth in passenger numbers since Allegiant Air commenced operations. This growth has led to a series of renovations and expansions to accommodate the increasing demand.
The Gateway 2030 plan has been developed to outline the process, key findings, and recommendations for the development of the airport's infrastructure and supporting city infrastructure. With a projected cost of over $1.4 billion, the plan aims to enable the airport to handle up to 10 million enplanements (20 million passengers) annually by the final phase. The expansion includes the addition of gates, terminals, parking spaces, and other supporting facilities to cater to the growing aviation needs in the region.
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The FAA code for the airport is IWA, while the IATA code is AZA
The Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport, formerly known as Williams Gateway Airport, is assigned the code IWA by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA code is the airport's location identifier. On the other hand, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) assigns the code AZA to the airport, which is referred to as the airport code.
The airport, located in Mesa, Arizona, is about 20 miles southeast of Phoenix in Maricopa County. It is classified as a non-hub airport by the FAA and serves as a reliever airport for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The airport, which was constructed in 1941 as Higley Field, was renamed Williams Field in 1942 in honour of Arizona native First Lieutenant Charles Linton Williams, who died in a plane crash in 1927.
The airport has seen significant growth in passenger numbers since Allegiant Air began operations, with 1,772,678 passenger boardings in 2019. To accommodate this increase, the airport has undergone extensive renovations and expansions, including the addition of nearly 70,000 square feet of new space and eight gates. The Gateway 2030 plan, which began in early 2013, aims to increase the number of gates to ten and enable the airport to handle up to 10 million enplanements (20 million passengers) annually by its completion, expected in 2030 or beyond.
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The airport was built in 1941 as Higley Field and renamed Williams Field in 1942
The airport that IWA stands for was built in 1941 as Higley Field and was renamed Williams Field on February 24, 1942, in honour of Arizona native First Lieutenant Charles Linton Williams (1898–1927). Williams was killed while serving with the 19th Pursuit Squadron at Wheeler Field, Oahu, when he had to ditch his Boeing PW-9A, 26-353, in the Pacific Ocean. The fort was located in the Territory of Hawaii, and Hawaii would go on to become a state in 1959.
The airport, now known as Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport, is located in Mesa, Arizona. It is classified as a nonhub airport by the FAA, which uses the code IWA to refer to it. Commercial passenger-flight organisations, on the other hand, use the IATA code of AZA.
The airport was first built as a flight-training field during World War II. In 1948, it was acquired by the US military and renamed Williams Air Base. It became the first jet training base in 1948 and, in 1966, was the first site of the Undergraduate Pilot Training program.
The 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended closing the base, and it was subsequently closed in 1993. Since then, the airport has undergone extensive renovations and expansions. The Gateway 2030 plan, developed in June 2012, outlines a four-phase process to accommodate the increasing number of passengers.
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The Gateway 2030 plan outlines the development of airport property and supporting infrastructure
IWA stands for Williams-Gateway Airport, now known as Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, located in Mesa, Arizona.
The Gateway 2030 Plan
Phase 1A of the Gateway 2030 project includes the development and installation of a new baggage handling system, a new baggage makeup area, and an expanded check-in building on the US side. The new baggage system is expected to eliminate three passenger processing checkpoints, enhancing operational efficiency and increasing passenger dwell time before departure. The new check-in hall will offer a spacious and eco-friendly environment, engineered for efficiency and comfort.
The successful execution of this phase showcases a seamless fusion of state-of-the-art technology and sustainable design principles. With an investment of $140 million, the project has been delivered within the allocated budget and has met LEED Gold requirements, providing a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings.
The Gateway 2030 project is set to revolutionize the travel experience at Queen Beatrix Airport, enhancing both passenger satisfaction and operational efficiency. Similar transformative projects are being undertaken globally, such as the Hong Kong International Airport Master Plan 2030, which aims to expand the airport's infrastructure to a three-runway system to maintain its position as a leading international aviation hub. These plans outline the development of airport properties and supporting infrastructure, catering to future demand and enhancing the overall passenger experience.
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Frequently asked questions
IWA stands for Williams-Gateway Airport, now known as Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport.
The airport is located in 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 honour of First Lieutenant Charles Linton Williams. In 1948, it was acquired by the US military and renamed Williams Air Base. The base closed in 1993 and the airport became Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport.
The airport is classified as a non-hub airport by the FAA and is a reliever airport for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.











































