Mesa-Gateway Brings Big Money To The State
The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport brought in more $1.3 billion in total economic benefits last fiscal year. That is according to a new study from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. As it turns out, the airport’s success is tied to an increase in visitors to Arizona.
Nearly twice as many passengers used Mesa-Gateway Airport last fiscal year versus 2010. It also nearly doubled its percentage of travelers from out of state. Airport spokesman Brian Sexton said Mesa-Gateway’s success has been helped by Allegiant Air, which operates nearly all the airport's flights.
"Our destinies somewhat are intertwined because the way Allegiant goes is the way we go," Sexton said, "and these dollars come in and go right now into the business community and the hotels and rent-a-cars and things like that."
Sexton added that many visitors have said in airport surveys they would not travel to Arizona if it were not for Allegiant. It will soon be the only carrier out of Mesa-Gateway. Spirit Air is set to move its service to Sky Harbor in October. Frontier Airlines ceased its flight this summer.
