The Gateway Advantage
Location
Mesa Gateway Airport is ideally situated in the Greater Phoenix metropolitan area, which comprises 23 cities and towns in Maricopa and Pinal counties. The Airport is located within a 30 to 45-minute drive of Old Town Scottsdale, Downtown Phoenix, and Tempe – to name a few. Additionally, the Airport’s location unlocks access to over 35 million consumers within a single-day truck haul. The region is home to some of the world’s most influential brands, including Axon, Honeywell, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, American Express, JPMorgan Chase, Intel, and TSMC.
See text description of map.
Drive times by truck from Gateway Airport:
One-day delivery area — covering Arizona, southern California, southern Nevada and western New Mexico: Tucson 1.75 hrs · Inland Empire 4 hrs · San Diego 4.75 hrs · Las Vegas 5.25 hrs · El Paso 6 hrs · Albuquerque 6.25 hrs
Two-day delivery area — reaching northern California, Utah, Colorado and Texas: Salt Lake City 11 hrs · Bay Area 12 hrs · Denver 12.5 hrs · Dallas 15 hrs
Three-day delivery area — shown only at the edges of the map: Houston 17.5 hrs
Population
Mesa Gateway Airport is strategically positioned at the heart of the Southeast Valley. With over 4.6 million residents, Maricopa County is one of the most populous and dynamic counties in the country. It accounts for more than 62% of Arizona’s population and is projected to grow an additional 13.3% by 2034. Locally, Mesa boasts a population of over 523,000, making it the 37th-largest city in the nation. For businesses landing here, this massive, continuous growth fuels a powerful economic ecosystem with deep concentrations in aerospace and defense, technology, and advanced manufacturing.
Population
4.7 Million
With 4.7 million people, greater Phoenix is home to over 62% of Arizona’s population
Population growth by 2034
13.3%
37th Largest City in America
Sources: Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, City of Mesa Office of Economic Development, and U.S. Census Bureau.
Business Climate
With minimal regulation, low taxes, and a business-oriented environment, Greater Phoenix and Mesa Gateway Airport make doing business easy. Some of the benefits businesses enjoy include:
Operating Costs
22%
Lower Than California
No Inventory or Franchise Taxes
Income Tax Rate
2.5%
Lowest Flat Tax in the country
Operational Stability
Arizona is a Right-to-Work state
Sources: Greater Phoenix Economic Council
Aerospace and Defense Industry
Arizona has one of the most developed aerospace and defense industrial bases in the United States and features some of the most recognizable names in the industry. The state ranked in the top three for Aerospace Manufacturing Attractiveness by PwC in 2025 and in the top five for Concentration for Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing by Lightcast in 2024. Mesa Gateway Airport is home to some of the largest aerospace companies in the world, including Textron Aviation, Gulfstream Aerospace, Garmin, and Embraer.
Air Cargo Capabilities
Mesa Gateway Airport unlocks seamless access to the Greater Phoenix area, the Southwest region, and global markets. With minimal congestion compared to traditional international hubs, Gateway Airport provides a highly efficient alternative for your domestic and global air cargo needs. Routing your air cargo through Mesa Gateway Airport provides unparalleled benefits, including:
- On-site U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Favorable airfield geometry for taxi times
- Large aircraft parking aprons
- Foreign Trade Zone #221
- Direct freeway access to the Loop 202 Freeway and State Route 24, with superb connectivity to transportation infrastructure, including Interstate 10 and U.S. Route 60
