Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Continues to Be Major Economic Catalyst for The Region

Southeast Valley, Arizona has become a destination hotspot, and the growth and success of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in the city of Mesa will continue to serve as a major economic catalyst for the region. Anchored by the former Williams Air Force Base, now the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, this 32 square-mile area benefits from its close proximity to the Phoenix metro area along with easy access to major freeway routes. Initially operated as a reliever general aviation airport, Gateway now provides regularly scheduled commercial passenger service in its own right. The airport provides a much-needed alternative for passengers who might otherwise use the busy Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Bounded by the communities of Mesa, Gilbert, Queen Creek, and the Arizona State Trust Lands, the Mesa Gateway area represents an opportunity for major growth in Southeast Valley. With the availability of unconstrained land, Gateway has the physical resources to rival Sky Harbor International Airport as well as several of the largest and most successful commercial airports in the U.S. Even though Gateway is often perceived as a reliever airport, it accounted for more than 222,000 landings and takeoffs, making it busier than Portland International Airport.

Along with a growing commercial presence, Gateway serves two flight schools, private jets, and government planes. Currently, the largest employer at the airport is Able Engineering, with more than 500 employees. Cessna Citation Service Center, Embraer Executive Jet Services, and Constant Aviation also provide similar maintenance, overhaul, and repair services at the airport, employing over 350 employees in total.

Continued Growth for Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and Region

Just on the horizon, there is much-anticipated growth planned for Gateway Airport and the surrounding area. Earlier this year, the Federal Aviation Administration gave the okay for development on 700 acres of land just north of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. Part of the land is to be used for a future commercial terminal as well as industrial, commercial and residential development. Light industrial employment opportunities, offices, hotels, and conference facilities are anticipated to spring up around the new terminal in the coming years.

The Airport has leased land for two new hangar projects to be built, giving the southeast Valley more private plane capabilities for the growing number of businesses operating in the region. The new, privately funded hangars will be the first built at the Mesa airport in nearly 10 years. Aviation Performance Solutions LLC and Wetta Ventures LLC have leased land and plan to develop aircraft hangar facilities on land owned by the Gateway Airport Authority. Apache Junction Mayor Jeff Serdy, chair of the airport authority, said in a statement “This new space will open up space for larger corporate aircraft and bring a significant amount of new business to the airport.”

Gateway will soon be home to a brand new facility of SkyBridge Arizona. The facility will be America’s first international air cargo process hub and will house Mexican and United States customs. The first-of-its-kind service will allow e-commerce companies, manufacturers and other commercial interests, conducting business in Mexico and throughout Latin America, to transport goods between countries more efficiently and cost-effectively while ensuring proper inspections and safety controls.

With the addition of Sky Bridge Arizona, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport will be transformed into a high-density employment center, fueling economic growth not just in the region, but for the entire state. Thousands of new flights will arrive at Gateway. There will also be $230 million in capital investment, and according to SkyBridge Arizona, the 15-year build-out plan includes improvements to infrastructure around the airport. It's estimated that Gateway will see an increase of an additional 2,000 cargo flights per year, increasing to 10,000 flights by 2036. The project is expected to create 17,000 local jobs.

Gateway is also looking to attract a daily regional jet service to the airport. Allegiant is currently the largest commercial airline, which only offers flights a few days a week. By bringing a daily airline to the airport, East Valley business travelers could fly into Denver or other regional airline hubs and connect to hundreds of other destinations. Other small carriers have started flying out of the airport and several Canadian airlines offer service between the Valley and destinations north of the border.

The airport has played a major role in the economic success in the surrounding area, particularly the Elliot Road Tech Corridor, home to Apple’s $2 billion, 1.3-million-square-foot global command center as well as Niagara Bottling, a 450,000-square-foot production facility and EdgeCore, a 1.25-million-square-foot data center campus.

(Sources: www.abc15.com, www.gatewayairport.com, www.bizjournals)

Living in Mesa

Located just east of Phoenix, Mesa is the third largest city in Arizona behind Phoenix and Tucson. Residents enjoy a vibrant downtown area, major employment opportunities, greats schools, beautiful and historic neighborhoods, top-rated golf courses, spring training baseball, and an abundance of outdoor activities that can be enjoyed year-round. Mesa's lively downtown area is brimming with unique shops, restaurants, sports bars, breweries, wine bars, clubs, dinner theater, and more.

The largest retail center in Mesa is Mesa Riverview, offering over 30 brand name retailers including Bed Bath & Beyond, Marshall's, Sports Authority, and more. Village Square at Dana Park features high-end retailers, wide pedestrian walkways, fountains, and spacious patios for dining al fresco. Superstition Springs Center has over 150 stores, eateries, and an outdoor amphitheater with free concerts and events throughout the year. You can also explore Mesa Marketplace Swap Meet with over 1,500 vendors offering an assortment of inexpensive and hard to find items.

Mesa’s outstanding education system (K-12) includes public schools and a number of private and parochial school systems. The community is served by the Mesa Public School District, the largest school district in Arizona. Charter schools, magnet schools, international baccalaureate programs, parochial, Montessori, and other options exemplify Mesa's commitment to education. The Polytechnic Campus of Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University-Mesa, along with several other institutions of postsecondary education are also located in Mesa and Arizona State University, one of the largest in the U.S. is located in nearby Tempe.

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Residents of Mesa have easy access to a plethora of outdoor recreation options, including over 40 miles of bike lanes and miles of scenic desert trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Hot summer days are perfect for floating on a giant inner tube at Salt River. Golfers have several top-rated golf courses in Mesa to choose from, including Longbow Golf Club, Las Sendas Golf Club, Toka Sticks Golf Club, Superstition Springs Golf Club, Augusta Ranch Golf Club, Dobson Ranch Golf Course, and Painted Mountain Golf Resort. Sports fans can enjoy spring training baseball for the Chicago Cubs and the Oakland A's at Hohokam Stadium and Sloan Park.

Public transportation for the city is provided by Valley Metro and Valley Metro Rail You can board the light rail on Main Street at Mesa Drive, Center Street, and Country Club to connect to Tempe and Phoenix. Mesa is served by two major airports: Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport located in southeast Mesa and the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, located about 26 miles from the center of town.

Work with the Best REALTOR® in Mesa - Cathy Carter

If you are thinking about relocating to Mesa, Cathy Carter is a top REALTOR® in the area with over 20 years of local experience. Cathy is very familiar with the different neighborhoods and communities in Mesa and knows where to find the most sought-after homes. A highly trained real estate agent, Cathy will help you find the perfect home that's ideally suited for your individual needs and lifestyle. She will be there to protect your interests, advocate for you, and will do whatever it takes to ensure a smooth and successful transaction. Along with her professional team, Cathy offers the kind of knowledge, skills, dedication, and personalized service you need when buying a home.

Please give award-winning Mesa REALTOR® - Cathy Carter a call today at 480-459-8488 or fill out the online contact form, and she will be happy to answer any questions you may have.