The east Mesa airport that offers an alternative to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has changed its name.
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is now simply Mesa Gateway Airport. The Mesa Gateway Airport Authority Board approved the name change on Tuesday, Dec. 17.
Julia Wheatley, the Mesa Gateway Airport advisory board chair and Queen Creek mayor, said the name change “reflects the tremendous growth and economic vitality of the East Valley,” according to a statement from the city of Mesa.
“With the collaborative support of Mesa, Gilbert, Apache Junction, Queen Creek and the Gila River Indian Community, Mesa Gateway Airport is positioned to continue serving as a vital transportation asset for our region’s 1.5 million residents and as a secondary air travel hub to the metro region,” Wheatley said.
The airport’s website, gatewayairport.com, and its social media accounts have been updated with the new name and logo.
Why Mesa Gateway Airport changed its name
Mesa Gateway Airport opened on the former Williams Air Force Base in 1994 and was first known as Williams Gateway Airport. The Air Force base and the airport’s original name commemorated Charles Linton Williams, an Arizona native who was a first lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. He died in 1927 in a plane crash in Hawaii.
Williams Gateway Airport was renamed Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in 2008 because the original name didn’t say where it was located. Despite the name change, the airport continues to honor Williams’ legacy as its terminal is named after him.
At the time of the last renaming, Phoenix was a member of what is now called the Mesa Gateway Airport Authority, joining in 2006. Phoenix provided more than $25 million as a member of the authority to support the airport’s growth.
Phoenix ended its partnership with the airport in June 2024. The name change was considered after Phoenix’s exit from the authority, Mesa Gateway Airport spokesman Ryan Smith said.
The airport authority’s current members are the cities of Mesa and Apache Junction, the towns of Queen Creek and Gilbert and the Gila River Indian Community.
What does Mesa Gateway Airport’s name change mean for travelers?
One thing flyers will soon notice is a sign with the airport’s new name.
Smith and the airport’s executive director, J. Brian O’Neill, told The Arizona Republic that a new monument sign for the airport is under construction at the intersection of Sossaman and Ray roads. The sign was planned before the airport’s renaming and was changed to reflect the new name, Smith said.
While the renaming won’t change the guest experience at Mesa Gateway, it is expected to help raise the profile of Mesa’s tourism sector. City officials said 4.4 million people visited Mesa in 2023, driving more than $748.6 million in direct visitor spending, and $84 million in state and local taxes.
“As more travelers discover the unique experiences and tremendous value the East Valley offers, having an airport that authentically represents our identity while providing convenient access to a growing number of regional destinations sets the stage for continued tourism growth,” said Marc Garcia, president and CEO of Visit Mesa.
Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @salerno_phx.
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