Where did Mesa’s name come from?

Mesa has had a family thing about it since the beginning. It all started in Farmington, New Mexico, at Four Corners Regional Airport. Our founder, Larry Risley, and his wife Janie saw the potential for regular commercial air service between Farmington and Albuquerque. They mortgaged their home and car to purchase one five-seat single-engine aircraft. In 1982, they began operating flights between the two cities and called their new airline Mesa Air Shuttle.

The airport in Farmington sits upon an actual mesa, which is where our name Mesa originates. Today, Mesa Airlines has a lot more planes and employees, and the family has grown into a tight-knit community, but Air Shuttle is still the callsign pilots use to communicate with air traffic control. 

So what is a Mesa?

A Mesa is a flattopped mountain or hill that is often isolated.

What Mesa does the Farmington airport sit on?

The Farmington Aiport has now been renamed to the Four Corners Airport and its sits on a mesa with an elevation of 5,506 ft.

What are some famous mesas in the U.S.?

• The Grand Mesa (Colorado) - largest Mesa in the world

• The Tepuis (Utah)

Thanks for learning a little bit more about Mesa and its origin!