May 17, 2017
Contact:
Media Relations
(206) 295-1567
newsroom@alaskaair.com
Alaska Airlines to begin scheduled commercial air service from Paine Field in 2018
Nine daily departures coming for more than a million North Sound travelers
SEATTLE – Air travel will get a lot easier for flyers living in Snohomish County and North King
County, Washington, next year when Alaska Airlines introduces commercial service from Paine
Field – Snohomish County Airport. Subject to government approvals, starting by fall of 2018,
more than a million North Sound travelers will enjoy shorter commutes to the airport and up to
nine daily departures.
“As our region continues to grow at a record pace and Sea-Tac Airport nears capacity, the time
is right to bring air service to our valued guests living in the North Sound,” said CEO of Alaska
Airlines Brad Tilden. “Today’s news means less time stuck in traffic on Interstate 5 and more
time enjoying your vacation or making the most of your business trip.”
Imagine spending more time getting to the airport than actually flying to a destination such as
Portland, Oregon. That’s what many travelers, who live north of Seattle, and drive to Seattle-
Tacoma International Airport, frequently experience. According to publicly available traffic data,
by flying out of Paine Field, Everett residents, for example, could shave up to 80 minutes off
their airport commute, during peak traffic congestion.
“This new service is great news for Snohomish County,” said Snohomish County Executive
Dave Somers. “Businesses will have easier access to major markets and leisure travelers can
skip the commute down south, saving time and fuel. For decades, Alaska Airlines has been a
responsible neighbor in our region, and we welcome them even closer to home at Paine Field.”
Alaska Airlines plans to operate nine daily departures from Paine Field using a fuel-efficient fleet
of Boeing 737 and Embraer 175 aircraft. This new service will deliver all the comfort guests
expect on an Alaska Airlines flight, while taking hundreds of cars off of I-5 every day.
“Alaska understands the local market, so having our Seattle-based airline be the first to provide
scheduled passenger service from Everett just confirms the value commercial flights will bring to
the local economy,” Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson said. “Alaska is an industry leader in
service and reliability, and our citizens and businesses will benefit from having such a
convenient travel option right here in Everett.”
Led by Propeller Airports and Snohomish County, construction of the state of the art terminal is
slated to begin in June. Alaska plans to announce routes, flight schedules and begin selling
tickets early next year.
“Propeller couldn’t be prouder than to partner with the hometown airline on this new service. As
Alaska does everyday, our goal is to put the customer first, making the travel experience truly
exceptional,” said Brett Smith, CEO of Propeller Airports.
Alaska Airlines Blog: New flying out of Paine Field will ease commuting pain for many
Editor's note: Download a graphic of regional airport locations at
https://newsroom.alaskaair.com/multimedia.
Alaska Airlines, together with Virgin America and its regional partners, flies 40 million customers
a year to 118 destinations with an average of 1,200 daily flights across the United States and to
Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica and Cuba. With Alaska and Alaska Global Partners, customers
can earn and redeem miles on flights to more than 900 destinations worldwide. Alaska Airlines
ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Carriers in North America" in the
J.D. Power North America Airline Satisfaction Study for 10 consecutive years from 2008 to
2017. Additionally, Alaska Mileage Plan ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Airline
Loyalty Rewards Programs" in the J.D. Power 2016 Airline Loyalty/Rewards Program
Satisfaction Report for the last three consecutive years. Learn more about Alaska's award-
winning service and unmatched reliability at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com.
Alaska Airlines, Virgin America and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE:
ALK).
About Propeller Airports
Propeller Airports is a subsidiary of Propeller Investments. With offices in New York, Seattle and
Atlanta, Propeller identifies untapped potential for commercial air travel by working with local
governments and communities to maximize airport assets. Propeller Airports is focused on
opportunities to invest, develop and manage both general aviation and commercial service
airports throughout the U.S.
