5/ 5 reviews
Easy in & out
“It took us 2 minutes to get through security on Good Friday when I thought more people would be traveling.”
Michelle5★ on Google
Airports / Arizona / AZA
Medium airport · AZA
Mesa Gateway Airport.
Mesa, Arizona · 1,382 ft elevation. 3 charter operators based here.
4.4/5
Google rating
3,403 ratings
3
Operators based
1,382
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Mesa, ArizonaELEV 1,382 FTMedium airportScheduled service
4.4
Google rating
3,403
Google reviews
ratings on Google
3
Based operators
charter operators on the field
1
FBOs on field
ramp, fuel and handling
1,382
Field elevation
feet above sea level
Field standing
#21 / 48
Arizona airports by Google rating
4.4★ across 3403 Google ratings , ranked against 48 rated AZ fields.
3 operators
Charter fleet based on the field
More resident charter operators than 75% of the 651 US fields with a based fleet on the register.
19 nm
To the nearest alternate
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Located in Mesa, Arizona, Mesa Gateway Airport (KIWA / AZA) operates as a mid-sized airport. The field lies at an elevation of 1,382 feet. The airport supports scheduled airline service as well as private jet and charter movements.
Charter departments call it home: Falcon Executive Aviation, Inc., jetNEXA, and Pacific Wings base aircraft at AZA. Useful alternates include Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX, 19 nm), Luke Air Force Base (LUF, 39 nm), and Davis Monthan Air Force Base (DMA, 79 nm). AZA offers 3 runways, the longest 10,401-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the VIP airliner class.
Quotes for flights out of AZA vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. The airport is also known as Higley Field and CHD. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from AZA, or browse verified operators serving the area.
1 FBO serves KIWA. Run one? Become the preferred FBO
Ramp services
FBOs on the field
Gateway Aviation Services
Your FBO? Claim it, freeGateway Aviation Services is the exclusive Fixed Base Operator (FBO) at Mesa Gateway Airport. Gateway Aviation Services offers unparalleled service for all facets of corporate, military, and general aviation.
- Fuel
- Hangar
- 24/7
- Unicom 129.875
- Executive lounge
- Customs
- Conference room
- Wi-Fi
- Cafe
- Vending
- Courtesy car
- Shuttle
- +22 more
- Phone
- Website
- Address
Directory data, unpaid. FBOs can take the Preferred slot above.
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
5/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“A couple shops to buy AZ memorabilia or just a snack and something to drink.”
Michelle5★ on Google
2/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“Very clean and most everyone we came in contact with was very professional.”
Randy Miller5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Mesa Gateway Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
KIWA
IATA
AZA
FAA / Local
IWA
Elevation
1,382 ft
Coordinates
33.3078° N · 111.6550° W
Airspace
D · DeltaClass D, DeltaA control tower runs the immediate airspace. Pilots establish two-way radio contact before entering, typical for busy business-aviation fields.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs AZ fields
state range 213–7,054 ft
At 1,382 ft, AZA sits lower than 80% of the 54 Arizona fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
3 runways
longest 10,401 ft
- 12R/30L10,401 ft × 150 ftConcreteLighted
- 12C/30C10,201 ft × 150 ftAsphaltLighted
- 12L/30R9,300 ft × 150 ftConcreteLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 10,401 ft
AZA's 10,401 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Based charter operators3
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 19nmPHXPhoenix Sky Harbor International AirportPhoenix
- 39nmLUFLuke Air Force BaseGlendale
- 79nmDMADavis Monthan Air Force BaseTucson
- 80nmTUSTucson International AirportTucson
- 89nmPRCPrescott Regional Airport - Ernest A. Love FieldPrescott
- 100nmSOWShow Low Regional AirportShow Low
Location
Open the full mapKIWA · Mesa Gateway Airport · Mesa, AZ
From the ramp
Google Places photography of Mesa Gateway Airport, tap any frame to view full-screen, then cycle with the arrows or your keyboard.
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from AZA on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 240 nm | 57m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 345 nm | 1h 12m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 424 nm | 1h 23m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 444 nm | 1h 26m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 449 nm | 1h 27m |
| Denver (DEN) | 517 nm | 1h 36m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 584 nm | 1h 45m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 620 nm | 1h 51m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use AZA?
- Mesa Gateway Airport's longest paved runway is 10,401 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at AZA?
- Mesa Gateway Airport has 3 runways; the longest measures 10,401 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Are there charter operators based at AZA?
- Yes. 3 charter operators list Mesa Gateway Airport as a home base, including Falcon Executive Aviation, Inc., jetNEXA, Pacific Wings. You can also request quotes from operators that reposition aircraft into the field.
- Which FBOs are at Mesa Gateway Airport?
- One FBO serves AZA: Gateway Aviation Services. Phone, website, hours, unicom and services for each are listed on this page. Call ahead for fuel, ramp space, and ground handling.
- What is the nearest major airport to AZA?
- The closest alternate is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), about 19 nm away, followed by Luke Air Force Base (LUF) at 39 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from AZA to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Las Vegas about 57m (240 nm), Los Angeles about 1h 12m (345 nm), Aspen about 1h 23m (424 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.