Paine Field: A Dream Starting To Come True

When Sound Transit proposed a dogleg light rail alignment to Everett in order to pick up Paine Field on the way, many–present company included–expressed doubts. Would dreams of a second major airport in the region materialize and would it be at Everett’s Paine Field? Were we building a rail dogleg to nowhere?

Those second airport dreams got one step closer to fruition last month as Alaska Airlines announced it would begin regional commercial air service to Paine Field in mid-2018. Yesterday, Propeller Airports broke ground on the new passenger terminal at a ceremony attended by Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers (who is also Chair of the Sound Transit Board) and Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib.

Alaska Airlines’ chief commercial officer Andrew Harrison cited congestion both at the Sea-Tac International Airport and on area highways as motivating the expansion.

“Our region has seen tremendous growth in recent years, especially in north Puget Sound,” Harrison said. “With Sea-Tac Airport near capacity and I-5 gridlock the norm, the time is right to give residents living in north King and Snohomish counties the option of flying closer from home. On behalf of Alaska Airlines and our 7,000 employees who call this region home, we’re thrilled to join Propeller and Snohomish County in bringing commercial air service back to Paine Field.”

Alaska will start with service to nearby cities only, meaning Paine Field has a very long way to go to rival Sea-Tac, a behemoth airport that has climbed to ninth busiest in the nation and is also adding more terminals. “More than a million North Sound travelers will enjoy shorter commutes to the airport and up to nine daily departures,” Propeller said in the press release. “Many travelers who live north of Seattle spend more time getting to an airport than actually flying to destinations as close as Portland, Oregon.”