Located in the East Valley of the Phoenix Metropolitan
Area, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is a former military
airfield that has successfully made the transition to a full
service commercial passenger airport. Regularly scheduled
commercial service began in October of 2007 with initial
service from Allegiant Air to 13 destinations. As of
January 2009, a total of 15 destinations are supported.
Allegiant Air accounted for 174,250 enplanements in
calendar year 2008. An additional 3,399 enplanements were
realized from air taxi and charter operations. Approximately
355,000 passengers utilized the airport in 2008.
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is operated and maintained
by the Williams Gateway Airport Authority (WGAA), a
Joint Powers Airport Authority comprised of the Cities of
Mesa and Phoenix, the Towns of Queen Creek and
Gilbert, and the Gila River Indian Community. The Airport
Authority was formed to develop, reuse, operate,
and maintain the airport property and facilities at
the former Williams Air Force Base, which closed in
September 1993.
Initially operated as a reliever general aviation airport,
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport now provides regularly
scheduled commercial passenger air service in its own
right. In this capacity, the airport provides a much needed
alternative for passengers who might otherwise utilize busy
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) classifies
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport as a non-hub commercial
service airport. The airport has over 100 based general
aviation aircraft, including many business aircraft owned or
leased by corporations and major employers in the
metropolitan area. The following are the major facilities at
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport:
Three parallel commercial capable runways:
1) Runway 12R-30L: 10,401’ x 150’
2) Runway 12C-30C: 10,201’ x 150’
3) Runway 12L-30R: 9,301’ x 150’
Airport traffic control tower.
33,000 sq. ft. terminal building with 4 gates.
233,000 sq. yd. aircraft parking apron.
Over 30,000 sq. yd. cargo ramp.
Full-service fixed base operator and other specialty
operators.
Four business jet service centers (Embraer,
Cessna, Hawker Beechcraft, and Crownair)
The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Master Plan is the
second update to the original master plan undertaken in
1994 and first updated in 1999. Proactive airport sponsors
will periodically update their airport’s master plan to ensure
that the airport can continue to adapt to developments in
the local and national aviation economies. Updates
every five to seven years are particularly important at
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport as it has evolved
from a military airfield to a public commercial service
airport. This study was financed with assistance
from the FAA.
The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Master Plan is of
interest to many within the local community. This includes
local citizens, community organizations, airport users,
airport tenants, area-wide planning agencies, and aviation
organizations. To assist in the coordination and
development of the Master Plan, the Williams Gateway
Airport Authority identified a cross-section of these
persons and groups to serve on a Planning Advisory
Committee (PAC). The committee met six times over the
course of the study to review and discuss draft working
chapters of the master plan. In addition, four public
MASTER PLAN PREPARATION
information workshops were held to provide information
to and solicit input from other interested citizens. One
workshop was held in the Town of Gilbert, one in the
Town of Queen Creek, and the remaining two were held at
the airport. The same draft working papers that were
provided to the PAC were also made accessible to the
public via the consultant and airport web sites.
Facility planning begins with a definition of demand that
may reasonably be expected in the future. For
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, this involved updating
forecasts to identify potential future aviation demand.
Recognizing the realities of year-to-year fluctuations in
activity, the Master Plan is keyed
to potential demand levels
rather than specific future
dates in time. These “planning
horizons” were established
as levels of aviation activity
that, when reached, trigger
consideration by airport
management of the next step in
the Master Plan program.
By developing the airport to
meet the aviation demand as
those indicators are reached
instead of specific points in
time, the airport will be able to implement development
needs which will meet the operational demands of its users
in a cost-efficient and well-planned manner. This program
also provides the Airport Authority the flexibility to
accelerate or delay project implementation based on actual
need or unanticipated changes in needs or demand. The
forecast planning horizons are summarized in the
accompanying table.
Several significant changes and events have occurred since
the completion of the 1999 Master Plan Update. First, the
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 utilizing
commercial airplanes, placed an economic and security
strain on the aviation industry. At the time, Phoenix-Mesa
Gateway Airport was positioned to welcome commercial
passenger service. These events directly contributed to
airlines shifting priorities away from expansion. Second,
the City of Phoenix was officially given a seat on the Board
of Directors. Third, the launch of regularly scheduled
commercial service in October 2007 has led to a need to
reconsider the development priorities of the airport.
Fourth, from a socioeconomic standpoint, the East Valley
region has continued to grow
substantially, often leading the
nation in some growth measures.
Finally, airport design standards as
developed by the FAA have gone
through nine different revisions
since the completion of the
previous master plan.
With consideration of these
factors a new master plan concept
was developed. The new concept
preserves all three runways as
potential commercial service
runways. Runway 12L-30R would
be the primary commercial passenger departure runway,
Runway 12C-30C would be the primary arrival runway, and
Runway 12R-30L would be the general aviation and air
cargo runway.
The recommended airfield layout was developed in a
fashion that would minimize or eliminate the need for
additional property acquisition or surface road alterations.
This was accomplished without
any negative impact to current
or future operations. The
taxiway system was redesigned
to meet an FAA recommendation
that increases safety by reducing
the potential for runway
incursions. This redesign creates
staggered taxiway exits from the
runways that reduce the
possibility of an aircraft
crossing the runways without
being forced to make turns.
Planning Horizon
2007 2012 2017 2027
Short
Term
Baseline
Intermediate
Term
Long
Term
Enplanements
Air Carrier Operations
Air Cargo Operations
Air Taxi Operations
Military Operations
General Aviation Operations
Total Operations
Enplaned Air Cargo (Tons)
Based Aircraft
177,649*
1,961
0
8,675
9,380
276,670
296,686
0
115
350,000
9,449
800
12,772
12,500
321,479
357,000
10,000
200
850,000
20,806
1,700
16,171
12,500
363,823
415,000
21,000
241
2,200,000
48,166
3,500
22,866
12,500
447,968
535,000
44,000
350
DEMAND-BASED PLANNING
AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PLAN
* 2008 Enplanement
The west side ramp is separated into functional uses. The
north ramp is primarily for use by general aviation aircraft.
The middle ramp is primarily for use by commercial
passenger aircraft, and the south ramp is primarily utilized
by airport maintenance businesses and corporate hangar
facilities. This division of activity levels is planned to be
maintained until such a time that the commercial service
facilities are relocated to the east side of the airport.
The southwest portion of the airport has over 230 acres of
undeveloped property. This area is planned to support
both aviation related businesses (those needing taxiway
access) and non-aviation businesses (those not needing
taxiway access). A new taxiway is planned to open up this
area for aviation related business development. This area
provides unique development opportunities as the availability
of large parcels at major metropolitan airports is rare.
With enplanements (passenger boardings) forecast to reach
2.2 million within 20 years and potentially 5 million beyond
that, development of the east side of the airport with a
replacement passenger terminal is recommended. Based
on recent enplanement growth trends, the need for more
capacity in the passenger terminal building is immediate.
The entire flight line on the east side of the airport is
reserved for passenger terminal complex expansion.
As airports are rapidly becoming multi-functional
businesses, those areas on the east side that are not
reserved for direct aviation related activities are planned for
commercial development. The types of development
should be keyed to the aviation nature of the facility such
as hotels, a convention center, restaurants, and shops.
The major development items anticipated for each
planning horizon are summarized as follows:
The full implementation of the Master Plan would involve
a financial commitment of $755 million over the planning
period. Financing for capital improvements can come
from several sources. The FAA administers the federal
Airport Improvement Program (AIP) that provides up to
95 percent funding for eligible capital projects. Funding
for this program comes from Congressional appropriations
of revenues generated by airport users. This includes taxes
on airline tickets, aviation fuel, aircraft registrations, and
other aviation related sources. The airport has also benefited
from its inclusion in the Military Airport Program, which is
a federal set aside of AIP grant funds for aiding conversion
of former military airfields to civilian use.
INTERMEDIATE TERM IMPROVEMENTS
Initial construction of the east side terminal building
East side aircraft ramp
East side fuel farm and other support facilities
Extension of Runway12L approximately 1,000 feet to
the northwest
Relocation of Taxiway G to eliminate the diagonal
nature of the existing taxiway
East side road construction
Alpha apron expansion
New approach lights leading to Runway 30C
Additional vehicle parking (surface and/or multi-story
garage)
LONG TERM IMPROVEMENTS
Expansion of the east side terminal building
New taxiway construction
Alpha apron expansion
Runway 12R-30L extension southeast
Reconstruction of general aviation apron
East side ARFF facilities
East side parking garage
Runway 12R-30L reconstruction
SHORT TERM IMPROVEMENTS
Expansion of the west side passenger terminal and
vehicle parking capacity
Alpha apron expansion
Completion of the dual west side taxiway system
Major Rehabilitation of Runway 12C-30C
Construction of Taxiway L across the airfield and into
the undeveloped southwest parcels
Significant drainage and other infrastructure improvements
Rehabilitation of portions of Runway 12R-30L
Completion of east side parallel Taxiway C
Perimeter service road improvements
East side terminal complex planning studies
Acquisition of 31 acres on the east side
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDING
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) –
Aeronautics Division provides 2.5 percent matching
funding on federal grants. ADOT has several additional
grant and loan programs available to airport sponsors. The
member governments of the Airport Authority Board have
also extended long term loans to the airport.
The airport also generates revenues on its own through
facility rentals and land leases. As a commercial service
airport, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is eligible to
impose a passenger facility charge of $4.50 per ticket to be
used for specific airport improvements.
The table outlines the total funding program for the master
plan. Projects directly associated with development of the east
side terminal complex are estimated to cost approximately
$342 million of the $755 million total. Approximately $401
million of the total costs will be eligible for grants-in-aid
administered by the FAA.
Approximately $11.2
million is eligible for state
aid, and the remaining $342
million would be the
responsibility of the
airport. Project eligibility
does not guarantee funding.
As part of the Master Plan study, an Economic Benefit
Study of the airport was conducted. The presence of the
airport created both tangible and intangible benefits for the
airport service area. The airport supports a diverse range
of aviation and non-aviation activity. The airport has
attracted essential services to the region, including
enhanced medical care, such as air ambulance service,
support for law enforcement, and air cargo services.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
INDUCED BENEFITS:
Created by multiplier effects as spending
reticulates within the regional economy.
• $296.7 Million Revenues
• $112.5 Million Earnings
• 2,297 Jobs
TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACTS:
The sum of Direct, Indirect, and Induced Impacts.
• $534.6 Million Revenues
• $209.2 Million Earnings
• 4,074 Jobs
DIRECT BENEFITS:
Created by suppliers of aviation services located
on the airport.
• $201.3 Million Revenues
• $73.4 Million Earnings
• 1,251 On-Airport Jobs
INDIRECT BENEFITS:
Created by air visitors utilizing Phoenix-Mesa
Gateway Airport.
• $36.6 Million Revenues
• $13.3 Million Earnings
• 527 Off-Airport Jobs
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport
5835 South Sossaman Road
Mesa, Arizona 85212-6014
Phone: 480-988-7600
Fax: 480-988-2315
website: www.phxmesagateway.org
Planning Horizon
CAPITAL FUNDING PLAN (2008)
Project Cost FAA Eligible
Short Term
Intermediate Term
Long Term
Totals
$259,865,000
$235,429,000
$259,333,000
$754,627,000
$191,186,550
$74,775,450
$135,331,300
$401,293,300
ADOT Eligible
$5,661,225
$1,967,775
$3,561,350
$11,190,350
Local Share
$63,017,225
$158,685,775
$120,440,350
$342,143,350
In quantifying benefits generated by airports, economists
have emphasized indicators of economic activity such as
dollar value of output (revenue), number of jobs created
(employment), and earnings of workers and business
owners (earnings). The total economic benefit (including
all multiplier effects) of the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway
Airport was $534.6 million in 2007/2008, supporting 4,075
jobs in the service area. The following summarizes the
economic benefits of the airport currently:
Airport Consultants
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