Gateway Airport in Mesa sets record with nearly 1.8M passengers in 2019

PHOENIX – The Phoenix area’s second busiest airport reached new highs in 2019.

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport announced Thursday it served nearly 1.8 million passengers last year, a record for the East Valley facility and an increase of about 16% from 2018.

Ryan Smith, the airport’s director of communications, said airports typically grow by 2-4% annually when the economy is good.

“These are really great numbers, and it’s something we hope to continue,” Smith told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Thursday.

December traffic surpassed 171,000 travelers, marking the airport’s 20th consecutive month of year-over-year growth.

“Lots of growth out here. Lots of people choosing to fly out of Gateway Airport, and we’re ecstatic about it,” Smith said.

Gateway looks to continue growing in 2020 after investing tens of million dollars in recent years to increase capacity and provide better service.

In May 2019, officials reached a deal with Uber to provide rides to and from Gateway, which is located south of the Loop 202 Santan Freeway between Sossaman and Ellsworth roads.

A Starbucks opened in the terminal last year, and 2020 will see the arrival of Panera Bread, O.H.S.O. Brewery, Macayo’s Mexican restaurant and Infusion Coffee and Tea.

Passengers can fly nonstop to more than 40 destinations in the U.S. and Canada from Gateway on Allegiant, Swoop and WestJet planes.

Smith said the airport is in talks with existing and new carriers about adding routes in 2020.

“We provide a ‘just plane easy’ experience, and we’re excited that more and more passengers are taking advantage of that,” he said.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Ashley Flood contributed to this report.

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