KJZZ

Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport officials unveiled an expansion plan Monday that would allow the airport to increase its passenger load to three million by 2017. KJZZ's Al Macias reports.

Based on FAA statistics, Phoenix Mesa Gateway is one of the fastest growing airports in the country.  Airport planners say the airport will reach capacity in the next few years. Two airlines currently serve the East Valley Airport and new gates are being added to the existing terminal, but that won’t be enough, according to spokesman Brian Sexton.

“We just anticipate we are going to have to expand even further. We are talking to other carriers, trying to get that third airline in here. Nothing to announce yet but we’re hopeful we’re going to get more carriers out here,” Sexton said.

The first phase of the expansion would include a new terminal with 14 gates that could handle three million passengers a year at a cost of $344 million.

When all construction is completed in 2030, Phoenix Mesa Gateway would have 60 gates and handle a projected 20 million passengers a year.  Funding for the construction will be raised through federal, state and local governments, as well as passenger fees and bonds.