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Private Development and Increasing Passenger Activity at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Fuels regional Job Growth and Economic Sustainability

By Gilbert Mayor Brigette Peterson Chairwoman, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority

If you haven’t visited Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (Airport) recently, you probably wouldn’t recognize the place. Commercial aircraft from multiple domestic and international airlines are pulled up to the passenger terminal, a record number of air travelers are enjoying enhanced food, beverage, and retail concessions, a new $30MM air traffic control tower was recently commissioned, and a five-gate, 30,000 square foot (SF) terminal addition is currently under construction. There’s also more than one million square feet of private development underway at the Airport, representing a significant financial investment and an increase in high-wage job opportunities for the Phoenix East Valley.
Virgin Galactic is constructing two large facilities totaling more than 150,000 SF at the north end of the airfield. One facility will house the “mothership” and the other is where they will manufacture up to six “spaceships” each year. According to Virgin Galactic representatives, the mothership will transport the spaceships manufactured at Gateway Airport to New Mexico for launch.
is now constructing a 129-room hotel and two 250,000 SF industrial buildings. SkyBridge is also investing between $25-$40 MM to construct horizontal infrastructure including a taxi lane extension, aircraft ramp area, roadways, and wet/dry utilities.
Global aviation industry leaders such as Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation and Virgin Galactic are making major financial investments at Gateway Airport. Gulfstream already occupies over 100,000 SF of airfield facilities and is currently constructing a new 225,000 SF West Coast Service Center on the east side of the airfield that will be home to approximately 350-400 employees.
Gateway Airport also has two exciting master development projects offering mixed-use aeronautical and non-aeronautical parcels totaling approximately 660 acres. SkyBridge Arizona (SkyBridge), which includes 360 acres of land at the south end of the Airport, is being developed by Mesa SkyBridge, LLC. SkyBridge’s first two facilities, totaling over 135,000 SF are complete and have been fully leased. SkyBridge
GatewayEast is a 300-acre non-aeronautical development opportunity located on the eastside of the Airport adjacent to Ellsworth Road, the SR 24 Freeway, and the Loop 202 San Tan Freeway. The Boyer Company, LC (Boyer) from Salt Lake City, UT is planning a mixed-use development project including office, industrial, and commercial retail space. Boyer is currently working on a master plan for Phase I which includes the first 100 acres.
It’s my honor and privilege to serve as the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority’s Chairwoman for fiscal year 2023. The sky’s the limit at Gateway Airport and the entire Phoenix East Valley will continue to benefit from increasing job opportunities, more options for air travelers, and stronger regional economic sustainability.
