The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport has been named the Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) Airport of the Year for 2019, marking the third time it has taken home the honor, though it is a significantly busier airport than it was then.
Today, Phoenix-Mesa is the 32nd busiest airport in the country. Despite this, its efforts at community outreach and growth have earned praise from ADOT, along with programs to implement airport volunteers and aviation careers education. It has successfully hosted a president, been active in local chambers of commerce and even received a perfect certification and operations inspection from the Federal Aviation Administration.
“This prestigious award is a testament to the high-quality and dedicated employees that have helped create a major economic engine for the state of Arizona,” Apache Junction Mayor Jeff Serdy, chairman of the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority, said.
The award was decided by ADOT’s Aeronautics group, which works with airports throughout Arizona to administer federal and state grants. Its manager, Don Kriz, noted that Phoenix-Mesa has not only supported their community — they have advanced aviation in the state at large.