Passenger Terminal At Paine Field Everett On Track For Next Year

On Friday MyEverettNews.com took advantage of an opportunity to tag along with Congressman Rick Larsen as he received a quick tour and update on the new passenger terminal going in at Paine Field Airport in south Everett. Propeller Airports CEO Brett Smith provided the update. His company is building the two gate terminal.

“People are watching this project closely,” said Smith. “We’re not using taxpayer dollars like so many airports have done, this is a huge private investment in Everett and Snohomish County.” He says every dollar spent is expected to bring back fifteen dollars in impact. Smith says Propeller has set an optimistic opening target of next August but thinks the airlines that plan to use the terminal will likely start a bit later in the fall of 2018.

Earlier this year Alaska Airlines announced plans for nine daily departures at one of the new terminal gates from Paine Field. The routes are expected to be revealed after the first of the year. Smith said he’s not yet ready to provide the name of the second airline partner to use the other gate. The flights will be domestic and not international.

Congressman Larsen said he’s excited by the terminal and thinks it will be good for the city as it brings people from throughout western Washington to Everett. While some have said it will lead to huge development for Everett Larsen sees it as another piece of economic diversity for all of Snohomish County. “In context of everything else it’s like another egg in the basket,” said Larsen. “You start adding Washington State University, development of the waterfront, daily flights to and from Paine Field and pretty soon you have a full basket of diverse opportunity.”

The 11 acre site and area around it will have room for about 850 vehicles to park. Smith said Propeller is going above and beyond to make sure the facility is top notch and also environmentally friendly with increased storm water protection and also next generation electrically powered ground handling equipment. Smith also provided some historical context on Paine Field. It originally was supposed to be a passenger airport as proposed by the Roosevelt administration as a Works Progress Project in 1936. Then World War II came along and the role changed to military and then general aviation. “We’re kind of bringing it back full circle,” said Smith.