Commercial airline service is closer than it’s ever been for Paine Field. Both Horizon Air and Allegiant Air are planning to launch flights within weeks at Paine Field, Horizon destined for Spokane and Portland and Allegiant flying to Las Vegas. Many people travelling to Spokane or Portland, currently drive, simply because of the difficulty in getting to Seattle International Airport. He said Sea-Tac airport is “getting further and further away from Snohomish County every year” and noted that travel on I-5 will be even more challenging in the future as the region’s population grows and as highway constructon, including the Viaduct and SR 520, disrupt traffic even more.
Once they leave Paine Field and arrive in Portland, travellers will have full access to the rest of the national air transportation system.
Fly Paine Field’s online poll last fall was unscientific said co-sponsor Todd Brunner but “the survey showed more than 1,000 people a day could choose to use Paine Field instead of making that long drive.” Passenger service will create more jobs in the county, he said. Russo said Horizon flights from Paine Field will not affect the airline’s flights from Bellingham.
The air service would be used a great deal by businesses as well as the general public, said Todd Brunner, who maintains that the airport is a major public asset for the county that’s little recognized.
“There are four basic areas of importance there,” he said, “starting with aviation and aerospace industries. That’s a direct economic driver for the county. There’s also general aviation, corporate and business jets to support local businesses and commercial aviation, which provides local access to our national and international air transportation system for all the citizens of the county. We need a balanced and fair use of the airport for all of these groups.”
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