b'56 AZA TERMINALSPlenty More to Come Aside from the terminal expansion/modernization and new air traffic control tower, private enterprises are also making big investments at AZA. Weve got a lot going on, ONeill reports.Gulfstream is scheduled to open its 225,000-square-foot West Coast service center in May. The following month, Virgin Galactic will open a campus that includes a 42,000-square-foot hangar for its Mothership space vehicle transport, along with a 125,000-square-foot manufacturing facility designed to build up to six spacecraft per year for the companys space tourism base in New Mexico. Boeing recently completed a hangar for the movement of Apache helicopters built at its plant in nearby Mesa. The helicopters are loaded onto cargo aircraft at AZA for shipment to military clients around the world. On the east side of the airport, the new Gateway East masterThe concessions lineup includes this shop, which sells development will house non-aeronautical businesses and airtraditional newsstand items, gifts and packaged food. service support providers on 300 acres adjacent to two state highways. notes that Allegiant and Mexicos Viva Aerobus previously sought The airport even has plans to repurpose the Sprung Structureapproval from the U.S. Department of Transportation for a joint it purchased for holdroom facilities during recent terminalventure between the low-cost carriers. Should conversations construction. One option under consideration is to use it as aresume, it is realistic to believe AZAs largest U.S. carrier might temporary proof-of-concept Federal Inspection Services (FIS)chose the airport to launch new transborder service.site for U.S. Customs and Border Protection if a local carrierWith the terminal expansion now online, Drapers next order of were to pursue international service from the East Valley. ONeillbusiness is to refresh the airports older spaces to better match the new aesthetics. Watch soon for upgraded carpet, paint and seating, he says.ONeill credits U.S. Senators Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Rep. Airport Seating Alliance Greg Stanton (D-AZ) for their efforts to secure Now Offers More For Airports federal funding for the airport. This will allow us to continue to play an important role for the TRADITIONAL SEATING AND A FULL LINE next several decades, he says of the recent OF INDOOR/OUTDOOR WASTE RECEPTACLES! terminal expansion and modernization. Approximately $20.4 million for the $28 million project came from the federal government. The state of Arizona contributed $4 million to $5 million, and the airport authority funded the rest.AZA is owned by the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority, whose member governments include the cities of Phoenix, Mesa and Apache Junction; the towns of Gilbert and Queen Creek; and the Gila River Indian Community. Collectively, these entities contribute about $4 million per year to match whatever federal or state funds the airport receives from year to year.Were still very cost-conscious, Draper explains. Weve included every aspect we could think of that meets the needs of our passengers Visit Us At Booth 519 at AAAE! without building a Taj Mahal. airportseatingalliance.com|info@airportseatingalliance.comMay | June 2024AirportImprovement.com'