In 2025, Scottsdale Airport continued to invest in safety, infrastructure and community partnerships, securing more than $1.8 million in federal and state grants and supporting continued growth in general aviation.

“Scottsdale has not only maintained but also enhanced its reputation as a leading general aviation airport in the nation,” said City Manager Greg Caton. “As aviation evolves, our masterplan ensures we remain a world-class destination and meet the needs of the aviation industry while ensuring safety and efficiency.”

Aviation Director Rick Wielebski said Scottsdale Airport is one of the busiest single-runway airports in the country and generates an estimated $1.1 billion in annual economic impact for Scottsdale.

“Our collaborative approach with partners, strategic initiatives and community engagement has strengthened the airport’s role in the region,” he said.

In 2024, the airport recorded more than 164,000 takeoffs and landings, and aircraft operating at the airport used approximately 18 million gallons of fuel. In line with Scottsdale’s commitment to providing exceptional customer service, its proximity to freeways and major events requires the city to stay responsive to growing travel demand.

Grant funding promotes safety, efficiency

The airport received two grants from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Arizona Department of Transportation totaling more than $825,000 to support the Gate 1 Bypass Taxilane rehabilitation and the Aircraft and Vehicle Gate Improvement Project.

The Gate 1 project, which included pavement milling, drainage improvements and surface upgrades, was completed in December. The Aircraft and Vehicle Gate project is scheduled to begin early spring 2026 and is expected to take about one month to complete.

The aviation department also encouraged charter operators to report passenger volume. As a result, the airport qualified for more than $1 million in additional federal grant funding after reported charter passenger counts exceeded the 10,000-passenger threshold required for eligibility.

Construction begins on private terminal

Flexjet broke ground on a new $36 million private terminal at Scottsdale Airport, marking one of the largest private aviation investments at the airport in recent years. This addition brings numerous economic opportunities to the area and enhances both the aviation landscape and expected growth.

That commitment to improving infrastructure is why Scottsdale Airport received the 2025 Business Airport of the Year award from Airport Business magazine for the construction of the NetJets Maintenance Facility.

Progress made in drafting airport master plan

The Scottsdale Airport Master Plan serves as a long-term guide for maintaining safety, managing growth and planning future improvements. The Federal Aviation Administration requires airports to periodically update their master plans to ensure facilities meet safety standards and projected demand.

Forecasts project total operations at the airport to increase 2.83 percent annually while the charter passenger growth rate of 8.81 percent is estimated over the next two decades. Currently, 440 jets call the airport home. That’s expected to increase to 462 by 2044.

Movie nights engaged the community

Scottsdale Airport teamed up with Volanti Restaurant and Lounge to successfully host two family friendly movie nights in the spring and fall. The November event drew a record crowd of 3,500 attendees and supported a food drive benefiting the Scottsdale Food Bank.

Together, these efforts deliver infrastructure improvements and community programs at the airport that support Scottsdale’s local economy and quality of life today and decades into the future.

For more information about Scottsdale Airport, visit ScottsdaleAZ.gov, search “airport.”

Watch a timelapse video of arrivals and departures at Scottsdale Airport during the Barrett Jackson Collector Car Auction at WestWorld.