Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA): Simple Guide to the Second Largest Airport in Phoenix

The Mesa Gateway Airport (IATA: AZA, ICAO: KIWA), or Phoenix-Mesa Airport, is a developing airport in southeastern Mesa, Arizona, only 20 miles (32 km) southeast of downtown Phoenix. It is an essential reliever airport of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and a major base of Allegiant Air, which is among the leading budget airlines in the country.

Key Facts About Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA)

• Airport Codes: IATA AZA, ICAO KIWA, FAA LID IWA. 

• Type: Public 

• Owned and Operated by: Mesa Gateway Airport Authority

• Opened: 1994 (originally called Higley Field in 1941) 

• Elevation: 1,384 ft (422 m) 

• Location: Mesa, Arizona, USA

• Base for: Allegiant Air is used as a reliever airport for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

• Total Area: 3,020 acres (1,220 hectares)

• Runways:

• Runway 12C/30C: 10,201 ft × 150 ft (3,109 m × 46 m)

• Runway 12L/30R: 9,300 ft × 150 ft (2,835 m × 46 m)

• Runway 12R/30L: 10,401 ft × 150 ft (3,170 m × 46 m)

Distance of AZA to Major Airports in Phoenix

The table below represents the estimated distance and time from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) to the other airports in Phoenix: 

About Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA)

The airport is run by the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) Authority and is owned by the Mesa Gateway Airport Authority and primarily serves to alleviate the air traffic of the main airport in Phoenix. It operates domestic and seasonal flights across the borders to several cities in the U.S. via Allegiant Air and other airlines.

The airport registered more than 1.7 million passenger boardings in 2019, which indicates its gradual development as an alternative hub for Phoenix region travelers.

Most of the airports in the United States have one code for both the FAA and the IATA, but Mesa Gateway is an exception, with its FAA code IWA and its IATA counterpart AZA. It is typically referred to by its FAA code by aviation experts, but when travelers are purchasing tickets, they will see it listed as AZA.

The History of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA)

The history of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) is very long and interesting, as it was built in 1941 as Higley Field. It was later renamed Williams Field in memory of First Lieutenant Charles Linton Williams, an Arizona-born pilot who died in service a year later.

In 1948, it was developed into Williams Air Base, a flight training base that was mainly utilized in World War II. It was later to be the first U.S. jet training base in 1948, and the Undergraduate Pilot Training program began in 1966.

In 1993, Williams Air Base finally closed after the Base Realignment and Closure Commission advised it to be closed. It was later redeveloped into a commercial airport, and in 1994, it was again reopened as Williams Gateway Airport, and a new era of aviation began in Mesa.

Growth and Commercial Flights

By the mid-2000s, AZA started receiving more airlines. In 2007, Allegiant Air took a big step and selected it as one of its targeted cities. The airline grew rapidly and linked Mesa to more than a dozen destinations within the U.S.

The name of the airport was later changed in the same year to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. Airlines such as WestJet, Swoop, and Flair Airlines have also been flying seasonally to Canada over the years, and Avelo Airlines briefly flew to California in 2021.

The airport, In 2022, the airport installed an additional control tower to manage the increasing air traffic. Subsequently, on December 17, 2024, the airport was renamed once again to its present name, Mesa Gateway Airport, after the city of Phoenix withdrew the authority board.

Terminal at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA)

Phoenix Mesa Gateway is an airport with a single terminal, the Charles L. Williams Terminal. The terminal has 11 gates and is constructed in such a way that it facilitates the easy movement of the passengers, and hence it is easy to navigate through it even for first-time travelers.

The interior will have modern facilities, comfortable waiting bays, and fast check-in services. It also has dining facilities, car rental booths, and easy access to parking facilities, which means that a customer can have a hassle-free journey throughout the airport.

No matter which airline you are flying with, whether it's Allegiant Air or any other company that serves the airport, the Charles L. Williams Terminal will present an efficient and traveler-friendly atmosphere that shows the increasing significance of Mesa Gateway in the air transportation network of Arizona.

Airport Facilities And Runways 

The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) covers an area of 3,020 acres (1,220 hectares) and has three parallel runways, each with the capacity for large commercial aircraft:

• Runway 12C/30C: 10,201 ft (3,109 m)

• Runway 12L/30R: 9,300 ft (2,835 m)

• Runway 12R/30L: 10,401 ft (3,170 m)

The airport had 254,599 aircraft operations in 2022, with an average of almost 700 flights per day. Approximately 80 percent of its operations are general aviation, then air taxis (14 percent), airlines (5 percent), and military flights (2 percent).
The airport has approximately 72 aircraft comprising single-engine planes, jets, and helicopters.

Mesa Gateway Today

The Mesa Gateway Airport is expanding today as a low-cost, traveler-friendly option to Phoenix Sky Harbor. It is famous because of shorter queues, convenient parking, and direct Allegiant Air flights to the most popular vacation destinations. The airport is central to the fulfillment of the travel requirements of the rapidly expanding East Valley of Arizona.

Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) is demonstrating that the second airport in Phoenix is not just a backup but an opening to low-cost and comfortable travel with new facilities, efficient operations, and convenient connections.

Conclusion

Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) is a historic military base that has developed into one of the most important airports in the state of Arizona. Having a convenient location, located just southeast of Phoenix, a modern terminal, and a growing flight network with Allegiant Air and other airlines, it has become the choice of the traveler who desires affordable and stress-free air travel.

The airport has been constantly upgraded, and its addition of a new control tower, as well as better passenger facilities, demonstrates its interest in the development and comfort of its passengers. With a powerful regional government and a large reliever to Phoenix Sky Harbor, Mesa Gateway is a significant force in the future of Arizona aviation.