Falcon Field’s Landing Fee Proposal Sparks Battle Between Airport Tenants and Area Residents

Mesa, Arizona, facility seeks $2.6 million for self-sufficiency, but the new charge threatens flight schools and pilot training.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, March 09, 2026 at 01:18 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Falcon Field city sponsor Mesa, Arizona, wants to create landing fees at the airport, but flight schools are against it. [Credit: Falcon Field Airport]

Key Takeaways:

A proposal for landing fees at Falcon Field Airport (KFFZ) is generating pushback from tenants and users concerned about rising costs, while surrounding residential neighborhoods support the fees as a means to reduce noise and traffic.
The city of Mesa's primary stated reason for the fees is to cover $2.6 million in annual airfield expenses and ensure the airport's financial self-sufficiency, as existing funds are depleting.
Airport tenants, particularly flight schools, argue that the proposed $20 per landing fee will disproportionately increase training costs, potentially forcing businesses to reduce operations or relocate, and shrinking the airport's ecosystem.
Residents' demand for landing fees stems from a significant uptick in aircraft traffic and associated noise complaints, alongside recent safety concerns following multiple crashes near the airport.

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The proposal to implement landing fees at Falcon Field Airport (KFFZ) in Mesa, Arizona, is generating pushback from airport tenants and users, but there’s support from residential neighborhoods surrounding it that perceive the charges as a means to reduce noise levels by reducing traffic.

Falcon Field Airport has two parallel runways: 4L/22R, measuring 3,799 feet by 75 feet, and 4R/22L, measuring 5,100 by 100. The airport sits in Class D airspace beneath the Phoenix Class B.