The City of Mesa has completed an independent legal review of Falcon Field Airport's landing fee program and has posted a revised landing fee schedule as part of the process to move forward with implementation.

The landing fees were originally approved earlier this year as part of the City's commitment to ensure Falcon Field remains financially self-sustaining. Following their approval, two flight schools filed a federal lawsuit challenging the fees. The flight schools also sought to block the City from implementing the fees while the litigation proceeded, but the federal court denied that request. The underlying litigation remains ongoing.

Separately, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initiated a review of the landing fee program and asked the City to delay implementation while that review was underway. In response to the litigation and FAA review, the City retained Anderson & Kreiger LLP, a nationally recognized law firm with extensive experience in airport law, to conduct an independent legal review of the program and provide recommendations.

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Anderson & Kreiger has now completed its review. Based on that work, the City has revised the landing fee schedule and publicly posted the proposed fees.

Under Arizona law, the revised fees are subject to a required 60-day public notice period. The FAA also encourages consultation with aeronautical users prior to implementing rate changes. The City consulted with airport users prior to the adoption of the original fees and will conduct additional consultation on the revised fees.

Following the notice period and consultation, the Mesa City Council will have the opportunity to consider the revised fee schedule. It is currently anticipated that the revised fees would come to Council at the December 8, 2026, Council meeting. If approved, the City will move forward with implementing and collecting the revised landing fees.

The City remains committed to ensuring Falcon Field operates as a financially self-sustaining enterprise, and the landing fee program is intended to ensure airport users appropriately contribute to the costs of operating and maintaining the airport rather than shifting those costs to Mesa residents.

The revised fee schedule reflects the City's careful review of the program and provides a path forward that supports Falcon Field's long-term financial sustainability while addressing the legal and regulatory considerations identified during the review process.

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