Statement Regarding Falcon Field Airport Landing Fee Litigation

Statement Regarding Falcon Field Airport Landing Fee Litigation

The City of Mesa has been named in a federal lawsuit filed by two flight schools, CAE Aviation Academy and Thrust Flight Properties challenging the implementation of landing fees at Falcon Field Airport. The lawsuit seeks to stop the City from implementing and collecting the landing fees.

The City believes the lawsuit lacks legal merit and does not justify delaying the landing fee program. Mesa will be represented by Anderson Kreiger, a national law firm with extensive experience in airport law.

The City will continue to defend the legality and necessity of the landing fees, which are intended to help cover the costs of operating, maintaining, and improving Falcon Field Airport and to support the Airport's long-term financial sustainability.

The City remains committed to ensuring that the Airport continues to operate in a fiscally responsible manner.

The City will respond through the normal court process, and it remains confident that the court will determine that there is no legal basis to prevent the landing fee program from moving forward.

At the same time, the City will continue to work with its vendor to complete installation of the technology and infrastructure needed to implement the landing fee system.

To allow time for these final improvements and for the City's legal response to the lawsuit, the City currently plans to activate the landing fee collection system on July 30, 2026, and to begin collection of landing data for billing purposes on Aug. 1, 2026.