Our History







History and Overview of YCAA

Yuma International Airport is managed and operated by the Yuma County Airport Authority, Inc (YCAA). Under Arizona Statutes, a state "Airport Authority" is an independent public agency and a non-profit organization. Our Airport Authority, called the "Yuma County Airport Authority" was incorporated as a non-profit entity in the State of Arizona on December 30, 1965. Our mission, as the YCAA, is to operate Yuma International Airport on behalf of the citizens and families of Yuma County, Arizona.

The YCAA leases the airport's land from the County on a fifty year lease that currently continues through December 2057. Typically the lease is renewed every 25 years. The Airport is managed by the Airport Director with the guidance of an 11 member Board of Directors.

The Authority concept of management has allowed the Airport to provide and foster civil aviation in the community without a financial burden being placed on the taxpayers of Yuma County. The Authority is a self supporting entity generating the revenue necessary to operate the airport through rates and charges assessed directly to the users of the Airport.

The Authority is an independent non-profit organization chartered under the Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 28 - Transportation, Article 6. 1, which states that the Authority is a validly organized and existing body politic and corporate exercising its powers for the benefit of the people, for the improvement of the people's health and welfare and for the increase of the people's traffic and prosperity. It is engaged in a public purpose essential to transportation and communication, performs an essential governmental function as an agency or instrumentality of the city, town, county or state and is exempt from property taxation by this state or an agency of this state.

About Our Logo
Paddle wheel steamers sailed the Colorado River during the early 1850’s to shortly after the turn of the century. These vessels traveled from Port Isabel, Mexico to Yuma and on to Laughlin and El Dorado Canyon, Nevada. The commerce conducted by these vessels established Yuma as an important transportation exchange point making Yuma truly the “Port of Opportunity”.

The paddle wheel steamer which is today an integral part of the Yuma County Airport Authority logo, signifies Yuma International Airport as a regional port of opportunity keeping Yuma and the region on the leading edge of transportation progress.



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