Paine Field#215th Engineering Installation Squadron

Paine Field has two runways: 16R/34L and 16L/34R. 16R/34L, at {{convert|9010|ft}} in length, is suited for the majority of aircraft and sees occasional heavy traffic. The first 1,000 feet of runway 16R is concrete, while the remainder is asphalt. It is in very good condition. Runway 16L/34R is {{convert|3004|ft|m}} in length, and suitable only for small aircraft. Its pavement is in fair condition, with a noticeable rise in elevation mid-field, when compared with the ends. Runway 11-29 was decommissioned on September 10, 2020,{{cite web|url=https://www.painefield.com/175/Airfield-Construction|title=Paine Field Website }} and Boeing is leasing some of the former runway space to park partially completed aircraft.[http://paineairport.com/kpae4575.htm paineairport.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306111714/http://paineairport.com/kpae4575.htm |date=March 6, 2012 }} The Paine (PAE) VOR/DME is located on the field. It is unusually mounted on top of a Boeing hangar.{{Cite web |title=PAE @ OurAirports |url=https://ourairports.com/navaids/PAE/Paine_VOR-DME_US/ |access-date=April 17, 2023 |website=ourairports.com}}

The airport has 456 general aviation hangars, of which 326 are leased by the County, and 130 are "condominium" hangars.[http://www.painefield.com/hangars/hangar_introduction.html painefield.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303074541/http://www.painefield.com/hangars/hangar_introduction.html |date=March 3, 2012 }} Wait time for a hangar currently ranges between 6 months and 5 years, depending on type.[http://www.painefield.com/hangars/hangar_introduction.html#summary painefield.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303074541/http://www.painefield.com/hangars/hangar_introduction.html |date=March 3, 2012 }}

Paine Field is adjacent to the Boeing Everett Factory, the world's largest building by volume, and the primary assembly location for Boeing's wide-body 767 and 777, although the facility also produced the 747 and the 787, with the former ending production in 2022{{Cite web |last=Josephs |first=Leslie |title=Boeing's last 747 has rolled out of the factory after a more than 50-year production run |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/06/boeing-747-production-is-ending-with-shift-to-twin-engine-jets.html |access-date=April 17, 2023 |website=CNBC |date=December 6, 2022 |language=en}} and the latter being moved to Boeing South Carolina in March 2021.{{Cite web |title=Boeing Confirms 787 Production Consolidation In South Carolina {{!}} Aviation Week Network |url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/aircraft-propulsion/boeing-confirms-787-production-consolidation-south-carolina |access-date=April 17, 2023 |website=aviationweek.com}} Paine Field is also home to Aviation Technical Services (ATS), one of the nation's largest aviation maintenance facilities. ATS operates a {{convert|950000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} facility, formerly operated by Goodrich (formerly known as Tramco), and sold to ATS in the fall of 2007. ATS does 'heavy' checks for a number of airlines and cargo companies. According to their web page, they average 443 aircraft redeliveries each year.

Paine Field is home to four flight schools – Chinook Flight Simulations,{{cite web |url=http://www.chinookflight.com |title=Chinook Flight — Home }} Regal Air,{{cite web |url=http://www.regalair.com |title=Regal Air }} Northway Aviation,{{cite web |url=http://www.northwayaviation.com/ |title=Northway Aviation }} and Everett Helicopters{{cite web |url=http://www.everetthelicoptersnw.com |title=Helicopters Northwest — Seattle Helicopter Tours, Flight School, Leasing and Maintenance }} – making it a popular destination for flight training. There are also a number of flying clubs on the field. Paine Field leases commercial space to aviation-related and other small businesses on its property at the "IAC Building" located between the runways at the south end of the airport.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

The FAA-operated control tower maintains limited hours, operating only between 7 AM and 9 PM local time. During times that the tower is operational, both runways are active, but after hours, only runway 16R-34L is open.{{cite web |url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/KPAE |title=AirNav: KPAE — Snohomish County Airport (Paine Field) }} The airport's administrative offices are located adjacent to the passenger terminal. It is scheduled to move in late February 2025 to a former Boeing training building to accommodate future expansion of the passenger terminal. The new administration building will be shared with the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, who will locate their West Precinct on the first floor.{{cite news |last=Diamond |first=Randy |date=February 3, 2025 |title=Paine Field readies for bigger, better office move |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/paine-field-readies-for-bigger-better-office-move/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=February 4, 2025}} The airport has several natural reserves and sanctuaries around its perimeter, including ponds that were certified in 2019 as Salmon-Safe.{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Julia-Grace |date=September 15, 2019 |title=After decades of work, Paine Field is Salmon-Safe |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/after-decades-of-work-paine-field-is-salmon-safe/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=September 16, 2019}} The salmon-safe area is bounded generally by Mukilteo Speedway on the west, State Route 526 ("Boeing Freeway") on the north, Airport Road (east) and Beverly Park Road on the south.{{cite map |title=Paine Field Salmon-Safe Certified Area|year=2019|url=https://www.painefield.com/ImageRepository/Document?documentID=1074|publisher=Paine Field Snohomish County Airport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509215749/https://www.painefield.com/ImageRepository/Document?documentID=1074|archive-date=May 9, 2023}}

Paine Field was originally constructed in 1936 as a Works Progress Administration project. At the time of development, it was envisioned that the Airport would create jobs and economic growth in the region by becoming one of the ten new "super airports" around the country.

Paine Field was taken over by the U.S. Army Air Corps prior to entry into World War II as a patrol, air defense, and fighter training base and was later controlled by the U.S. Army Air Forces. With the end of the war, the airfield began to be returned to the civilian control of Snohomish County. In 1947, as transition activities were still underway, military control of the then-Paine Army Airfield was transferred to the newly established U.S. Air Force, with the facility renamed Paine Field. Transfer of the property to the Snohomish County government was completed in 1948, however, the Air Force continued to maintain various Air Defense Command units at the airport as military tenants.

Before Snohomish County could start planning for the continued development of a "super airport", the United States was again involved in an armed conflict—this time in Korea and also the breakout of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. When the Pacific Northwest defense installations were reviewed House Representative Henry M. Jackson recommended more military presence in the area and Paine Field was reactivated as a military airbase.

File:Paine AFB 1959-60 guide.jpgs overflying the airfield.]]

Paine Field was returned to USAF control in 1951, renamed Paine Air Force Base, and placed under the jurisdiction of the Air Defense Command (ADC). While the county relinquished most of its commercial facilities to house USAF personnel, units, and assets, the site did not have an exclusive military presence. The airfield remained a joint civil-military airport with the Air Force operating the control tower and other air traffic control facilities, while the county, in a shared-use agreement, rented commercial leasehold areas to businesses such as Alaska Airlines. The 4753rd Air Base Squadron (later re-designated the 86th Air Base Squadron){{cite web |url=http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/410/650.xml |title=AFHRA Document 00410650 }} was activated on the new Air Force base on February 1, 1952, as a placeholder unit.

Although inactive for only six years, significant military construction (MILCON) was necessary to bring the World War II training base up to postwar USAF standards. In 1951, additional land surrounding the Paine AFB site was appropriated for military facilities and extended runways. A 9,000-foot jet runway (Rwy 16/34) was constructed along with accompanying taxiways, permanent concrete buildings, and other support facilities to replace the temporary wartime wooden structures that were viewed as substandard for a permanent USAF base. The 529th Air Defense Group was activated on February 16, 1953, and became the permanent host unit at Paine AFB until redesigned as the 326th Fighter Group in 1955.

File:64th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Convair F-102A-75-CO Delta Dagger 56-1344.jpgA-75-CO Delta Dagger 56-1344, 326th Fighter Group, March 1960]]

Various regular Air Force fighter-interceptor units and Air Force Reserve troop carrier units operated at Paine AFB from 1951 until the mid-1960s. In 1966, USAF identified Paine AFB for closure due to budgetary constraints caused by the cost of the Vietnam War. The by then-host unit, the 57th Fighter Group phased down operations with the departure of the interceptors and was inactivated in place on September 30, 1968. Paine AFB has inactivated on the same date and the facility was returned to full civilian control as Paine Field / Snohomish County Airport. The {{vanchor|215th Engineering Installation Squadron}} (215 EIS) of the Washington Air National Guard, formerly situated at Paine Field, was inactivated in 2013.{{cite web|website=Defense Visual Information Distribution Service|title=215th Engineering Installation Squadron: A Legacy of Service|publisher=United States Department of Defense|date=March 25, 2022|author=Capt. Hans Zeiger|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/417163/215th-engineering-installation-squadron-legacy-service}}

Paine AFB / Paine Field had also been under consideration in the 1960s by Army Air Defense Command as one of several sites for the Sentinel Anti-Ballistic Missile System due to its central location to several other major military bases and defense industries in the Puget Sound Region. Sentinel was eventually dropped in favor of the limited Safeguard system.

On July 25, 1966, Boeing announced that it would build the Boeing 747, a jet airliner capable of carrying nearly twice as many passengers as previous models. To build the giant aircraft, Boeing had to construct a facility large enough to handle the world's largest commercial jetliner. The land just north of Paine Field was chosen to construct the new facilities, including some development on the airport itself. Both the local government and the FAA concurred with the development. Work on the massive building began in August 1966 and the first employees arrived in early 1967. The 747 made its first flight at Paine Field on February 9, 1969.

In 1984, the Snohomish County Council considered legislation to rename Paine Field for Senator Henry M. Jackson, who had died a few months earlier. The proposal was put on hold after the Port of Seattle renamed Seattle–Tacoma International Airport for Jackson, which sparked public outcry and force them to revert to the original name.{{cite news |last=Bailey |first=Gil |date=March 3, 1984 |title=Officials tread softly on airport renaming |page=C1 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}

In late 2005, construction of the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour building was completed. The project, formerly known as the National Flight Interpretive Center, includes the Boeing factory tour as well as a gallery that highlights the newest developments in aviation, including both parts and components of airplanes, manufactured by Airbus and Boeing. The facility was opened to a private audience on December 16, 2005, and the following day the facility was open to the public. The Museum of Flight also has a restoration center at the airport's main gate; located further south is the Me 262 Project. Paul Allen's Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum has a large, refurbished hangar at the south end of the field, which opened as a museum in June 2008. The Historic Flight Foundation also housed and maintained early military aircraft. However, the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum closed in May 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and in April 2022 it was reported that the collection was sold and the museum would not re-open.{{cite news |last1=Podsada |first1=Janice |title=Paul Allen's Flying Heritage museum collection reportedly sold |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/paul-allens-flying-heritage-museum-collection-reportedly-sold/ |access-date=April 20, 2022 |work=The Everett Herald |date=April 19, 2022}} The Historic Flight Foundation closed their museum at Paine Field in 2020 as well, with their museum at Felts Field in Spokane, Washington now being their only location.

File:Paine Field passenger terminal under construction, April 2018.jpg

The use of Paine Field for commercial air service is highly controversial.

Several local governments have adopted resolutions against the use of Paine Field for commercial flights including Snohomish County (the airport's operator), the neighboring cities of Brier, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, and Woodway. Additionally, a local citizens group called "Save Our Communities" has worked to oppose any commercial flights at the airport.{{cite web |url=http://www.socnw.org |title=Save Our Communities |author=Blue Utopia |access-date=September 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419154055/http://socnw.org/|archive-date=April 19, 2018|url-status=dead}}

Notably, the city of Everett, the largest in the county and the county seat, has adopted a resolution in favor of the use of Paine Field for commercial air service.{{cite web |url=http://www.everettwa.org/cityhall/insidecityhall/full_agenda/includes/display_file.asp?id=4789 |title=Archived copy |access-date=December 15, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719121140/http://www.everettwa.org/cityhall/insidecityhall/full_agenda/includes/display_file.asp?id=4789 |archive-date=July 19, 2011}}

The use and expansion of the airport is currently governed by an agreement that was forged during 1978–1979 negotiations, called the Mediated Role Determination (MRD).[http://www.painefield.com/pf_pdf/mediated_role_master.pdf MRD] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060312155637/http://www.painefield.com/pf_pdf/mediated_role_master.pdf |date=March 12, 2006 }}. The MRD recommends the role of Paine Field to be as a general aviation and aerospace manufacturing airport, while discouraging other types of activities including supplemental/charter air passenger service. In 2005, Snohomish County commissioned a panel to review the MRD. That panel recommended that the MRD "should not be ratified or revised, but should be retired as a policy document".{{cite web |url=http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/documents/County_Services/mrd/mrdreport.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=December 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719061519/http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/documents/County_Services/mrd/mrdreport.pdf |archive-date=July 19, 2011}} page 188 In June 2008, the Snohomish County Council rejected the findings of its panel, and as in 1989, 1992, and 2001, restated its opposition to commercial air passenger services operating from Paine Field with this resolution:{{cite web |url=http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/documents/Departments/Council/News/RESOLUTIONNO.08-020.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=December 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719061630/http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/documents/Departments/Council/News/RESOLUTIONNO.08-020.pdf |archive-date=July 19, 2011}}

Reaffirm our county's commitment to preserving the existing general aviation role of Paine Field, and [to] pursue any and all lawful and appropriate means to discourage any action that would facilitate, directly or indirectly, use of Paine Field for scheduled air passenger service or air cargo service, which may include an interlocal agreement.[http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/documents/Departments/Council/News/PaineResolution6-08.pdf County Council Reaffirms Commitment Opposing Commercial Passenger Air Service at Paine Field] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719061615/http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/documents/Departments/Council/News/PaineResolution6-08.pdf |date=July 19, 2011 }}

Further reflecting its opposition to commercial air service, Snohomish County has adopted a policy of not spending funds to subsidize airlines or to pay for the infrastructure needed to support commercial air service.

In 2008, two airlines, Allegiant Air and Horizon Air, expressed interest in establishing passenger flights to Paine Field to the airport authority.{{cite news |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004460923_painefield06m.html |work=The Seattle Times |title=FAA says county must talk to Allegiant Air |first=Lynn |last=Thompson |date=June 6, 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://www.alaskasworld.com/newsroom/qxnews/qxstories/qx_20081002_090219.asp |title=Horizon Air Announces Intention to Fly from Paine Field |date=October 2, 2008 |publisher=Alaska Airlines |access-date=December 16, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405005735/http://www.alaskasworld.com/Newsroom/QXNews/QXstories/QX_20081002_090219.asp |archive-date=April 5, 2009 |url-status=dead }} In May 2008, in response to these requests, the Chairman of the Snohomish County Council sent Allegiant Air a letter stating their opposition to the request to start air service.{{cite web |url=http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/documents/Departments/Council/News/Letter.pdf |title=Letter to Robert Ashcroft, Allegiant Air |access-date=December 16, 2009 |last=Cooper |first=Mike |date=May 2008|display-authors = etal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719061655/http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/documents/Departments/Council/News/Letter.pdf |archive-date=July 19, 2011 }} The FAA wrote to the airport authority in June 2008 to reiterate that as a recipient of federal FAA grants, the County may not prohibit commercial aeronautical activities offering services to the public. If the County blocked commercial flights, it would risk an enforcement action under Federal Aviation Regulation 16.[http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/documents/Departments/Council/FAALetter.pdf Expression of Interest for Allegiant Air to Operate at Snohomish County (Paine Field) Airport, Everett Washington] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719061730/http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/documents/Departments/Council/FAALetter.pdf |date=July 19, 2011 }}

The airport completed a draft environmental assessment of the effects of commercial aviation at Paine Field in December 2009, and the public comment period ended on February 5, 2010. Opposition to Paine Field hosting commercial air service was overwhelming in meetings held for comments on the draft environmental assessment.{{cite news |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010698776_painefield05m.html |work=The Seattle Times |title=Crowd against passenger service at Paine Field |first=Lynn |last=Thompson |date=January 4, 2010}}{{cite news |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010858363_painefield22m.html |work=The Seattle Times |title=Mukilteo crowd lambastes Paine Field passenger plan |first=Lynn |last=Thompson |date=January 21, 2010}} The neighboring city of Mukilteo hired an aviation attorney to represent the interests of the city during the environmental assessment process and promised to "make it time consuming, expensive and stretch it out. We'll fight the terminal legally."[http://www.enterprisenewspapers.com/article/20090211/NEWS01/702119755/0/ETP26&news01ad=1 Mukilteo promises battle over Paine Field flights]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

On December 4, 2012, the FAA concluded that commercial airplanes could fly out of Paine Field without significantly adding to local noise and traffic. The findings cleared the way for commercial operations along with the construction of a terminal building.[http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2012/12/04/faa-gives-all-clear-for-commercial.html?ana=yfcpc FAA gives all-clear for commercial flights at Paine Field] On February 5, 2013, the cities of Edmonds and Mukilteo, along with two individuals, filed notice with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco that they intend to challenge the results of the Environmental Assessment.{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130205/NEWS01/702059910 |title=Mukilteo, Edmonds to fight Paine Field flights |work=The Everett Herald|date=February 4, 2013 }}

On July 15, 2013, Allegiant Air refused the county's terms to operate a terminal at Paine.{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130715/NEWS01/707169995#Allegiant-Air-refuses-terms-for-terminal-at-Paine-Field |title=Allegiant Air refuses terms for terminal at Paine Field |work=The Everett Herald|access-date=July 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718093227/http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130715/NEWS01/707169995#Allegiant-Air-refuses-terms-for-terminal-at-Paine-Field|archive-date=July 18, 2013|url-status=dead}}

In June 2014, New York-based Propeller Investments asked Snohomish County to start discussions leading to their construction of a terminal and parking facility at Paine Field. Propeller Investments would shoulder the risk — leasing land from the airport, financing terminal construction, and finding tenant airlines.{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20140617/NEWS01/140619282 |title=A new passenger-terminal proposal for Paine Field |work=The Everett Herald|date=June 17, 2014 }} On March 2, 2015, Snohomish County approved a lease-option agreement that gave Propeller Airports three years to carry out preliminary design work, environmental studies and to obtain permits needed to construct a proposed two-gate passenger terminal.{{cite web |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/snohomish-county-oks-plan-for-air-terminal-at-paine-field/ |title=Snohomish County OKs plan for commercial passenger terminal at Paine Field |date=March 2, 2015 |work=The Seattle Times}} In turn, Snohomish County would receive about $429,000 per year in rent plus a share of flight and parking revenues.

On March 4, 2016, a federal court denied an appeal by the City of Mukilteo and other citizens groups to prevent commercial flights at Paine Field.{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20160305/NEWS01/160309495 |title=Court ruling opens a path for commercial flights at Paine Field|date=March 5, 2016}}

The ground was broken for the passenger terminal on June 5, 2017. The 30,000 square foot building will have two gates and will be capable of handling about 16 flights per day.{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/alaska-flights-in-about-a-year-ground-broken-at-paine-field/ |title=Alaska flights in about a year: Ground broken at Paine Field |last=Haglund |first=Noah |date=June 6, 2017 |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=August 10, 2017}} The operator, Propeller Airports, has agreed to limit early-morning and late-night commercial flights to reduce noise impacts on Mukilteo and nearby residential areas.

Alaska Airlines was the first to announce in May 2017 that it would operate from Paine Field. The airline initially announced that it would fly nine daily flights with a mix of mainline and regional jets.{{cite news |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/alaska-airlines-will-start-passenger-flights-from-everetts-paine-field |title=Alaska Airlines will start passenger flights from Everett's Paine Field |last=Gates |first=Dominic |date=May 17, 2017 |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=May 17, 2017}} In January 2018, Alaska announced that instead all flights from Everett would be operated by its regional subsidiary, Horizon Air using the Embraer 175 regional jet, but that it would be offering 13 flights each day.{{cite news |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/alaska-airlines-to-begin-flights-to-8-west-coast-cities-from-everetts-paine-field-this-fall/ |title=Alaska Airlines to begin flights to 8 West Coast cities from Everett's Paine Field this fall |last=Gates |first=Dominic |date=January 16, 2018 |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=January 16, 2018}} In November 2018, the number of daily departures was again increased to 18.{{Cite news |url=https://blog.alaskaair.com/alaska-airlines/paine-field-tickets-on-sale/ |title=Ohhh, the possibilities at Paine Field! Tickets now on sale for 18 daily departures to 8 cities |date=November 15, 2018 |work=Alaska Airlines Blog|access-date=November 15, 2018 |language=en-US |ref=Alaska Start}} Alaska plans daily flights to several west coast destinations: Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose.{{cite news |last1=Haglund |first1=Noah |title=Vegas, LA, Phoenix, and more destinations from Paine Field |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/vegas-la-phoenix-and-more-destinations-from-paine-field/ |access-date=January 16, 2018 |work=Everett Herald |date=January 16, 2018}}

United Airlines announced on August 10, 2017, that six flights a day will be operated to its hubs in Denver and San Francisco.{{cite news |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/united-airlines-will-offer-flights-from-everetts-paine-field/ |title=United Airlines will offer flights from Everett's Paine Field |last=Gates |first=Dominic |date=August 10, 2017 |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=August 10, 2017}}

Southwest Airlines announced on January 25, 2018, their intention to serve the airport with five daily flights, three to Oakland and two to Las Vegas.{{cite news |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/southwest-will-join-airlines-flying-from-everetts-paine-field/ |title=Southwest will join airlines flying from Everett's Paine Field |last=Gates |first=Dominic |date=January 25, 2018 |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=January 25, 2018}} However, on November 15, 2018, Southwest reversed that decision and transferred its slots to Alaska Airlines.{{cite news |last=Mutazabaugh |first=Ben |date=November 15, 2018 |title=Southwest adds 10 new routes, cuts two; drops Paine Field plan |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2018/11/15/southwest-airlines-10-new-routes-paine-field-dropped-everett-nashville/2010189002/ |work=USA Today |access-date=November 15, 2018}}

Between Alaska and United, the initial commercial flight schedule for the airport included 24 daily departures, which was 50 percent higher than airport managers had initially planned for. In June 2018, the FAA announced an additional review of environmental impacts of passenger airline service, delaying the start of service between November 2018 and November 2019.{{cite news |last1=Gates |first1=Dominic |title=Looking forward to taking a passenger flight from Paine Field? Not so fast |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/fall-start-of-commercial-flights-from-paine-field-likely-to-slip-due-to-new-faa-review/ |access-date=July 12, 2018 |work=The Seattle Times |date=June 1, 2018}} The environmental review was completed in September 2018, and no significant additional environmental impacts were found, clearing the way for commercial service to start in early 2019.{{cite news |last1=Day |first1=Matt |title=Everett's Paine Fieldset to start commercial flights in 2019 after updated FAA review |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/passenger-flights-from-everetts-paine-field-likely-in-2019-after-updated-faa-review/ |access-date=October 2, 2018 |work=The Seattle Times |date=September 30, 2018}}

Alaska previously announced that it planned to inaugurate service on February 11 with a ceremonial flight to Las Vegas, before ramping up to a full schedule of 18 departures on March 12, 2019. Alaska added that the gradual ramp-up would allow the airline and its employees to ensure operations at the new airport terminal were running smoothly. Alaska later announced in January 2019 that it was tentatively postponing the start of operations from February 11 to March 4, 2019, due to the 2018–19 United States federal government shutdown further delaying governmental approval to begin service.{{cite web|url=https://blog.alaskaair.com/alaska-airlines/paine-field-delayed-service/|title=Start of service delayed until March 4 at Paine Field: Here's what you need to know|website=Alaska Airlines Blog|publisher=Alaska Airlines|date=January 22, 2019|access-date=January 22, 2019}} The first Alaska Airlines flight from Paine Field, carrying invited guests to Portland, departed at 10 a.m. on March 4, 2019; it was then followed by public flights to Las Vegas and Phoenix.{{cite news |last=Blethen |first=Ryan |date=March 4, 2019 |title=How the first day of commercial flights from Paine Field went |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/travel/first-commercial-flight-to-take-off-from-everetts-paine-field-today/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=March 25, 2019}} United began service to Denver and San Francisco on March 31, 2019.{{cite news |last=Podsada |first=Janice |date=November 26, 2018 |title=United flights to San Francisco and Denver begin March 31 |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/united-flights-to-san-francisco-and-denver-begin-march-31/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=November 28, 2018}} The San Francisco flights ceased in March 2020, after the airline found insufficient demand.{{cite news |last1=Podsada |first1=Janice |date=February 3, 2020 |title=United Airlines to end flights from Everett to San Francisco |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/united-airlines-to-end-flights-from-everett-to-san-francisco/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=February 4, 2020}}

Within a year of opening, the commercial terminal served more than one million passengers. Long-term plans for the terminal include free luggage carts, a cellphone lot, and a consolidated rental car center.{{cite news |last=Paul |first=Crystal |date=February 26, 2020 |title=A year and 1 million passengers later, Everett's Paine Field airport has become a hit with travelers |page=A1 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/travel/a-year-and-1-million-passengers-later-everetts-paine-field-airport-has-become-a-hit-with-travelers/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=February 26, 2020}} The airport's operators have also stated their desire to see larger planes, including Boeing 737s, serve the terminal and routes to destinations like Hawaii. The commencement of commercial service brought new noise complaints from nearby residents, including 10 households who submitted 62 percent of the 3,656 complaints filed in December 2019.{{cite news |last=Podsada |first=Janice |date=March 4, 2020 |title=Paine Field's passenger terminal is a year old. What's next? |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/paine-fields-passenger-terminal-is-a-year-old-whats-next/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 5, 2020}}{{cite news |last=Podsada |first=Janice |date=October 29, 2019 |title=Fake noise complaints inundate Everett's Paine Field airport |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/fake-noise-complaints-inundate-everetts-paine-field-airport/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 5, 2020}}

San Juan Airlines announced plans in April 2019 to begin scheduled service from the separate Castle and Cooke Aviation building at Paine Field, in addition to its current charter offerings. Two daily flights to Friday Harbor Airport on San Juan Island began on May 1, using small Cessna airplanes.{{cite news |last=Podsada |first=Janice |date=April 24, 2019 |title=Paine Field lands a 3rd airline, but this one flies Cessnas |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/paine-field-lands-a-3rd-airline-but-this-one-flies-cessnas/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=April 24, 2019}}

The number of flights at Paine Field was reduced to a single daily round-trip operated by Alaska Airlines in May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport announced that it would close for 71 days to complete repairs to the gate ramps and other maintenance while traffic and demand were reduced.{{cite news |last=Podsada |first=Janice |date=May 15, 2020 |title=Paine Field terminal to close for 71 days of ramp repairs |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/paine-field-terminal-to-close-for-71-days-of-ramp-repairs/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 15, 2020}} The terminal reopened on August 1 with three daily flights: Las Vegas and Phoenix on Alaska Airlines; and Denver on United Airlines.{{cite news |last=Podsada |first=Janice |date=August 2, 2020 |title=Lawmakers welcome return of passenger service at Paine Field |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/lawmakers-welcome-return-of-passenger-service-at-paine-field/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=August 2, 2020}}

In July 2021, United announced that they would be ending service to Paine Field in October of that year, opting instead to consolidate their resources at Sea-Tac.{{cite news|author=|date=July 19, 2021|title=United To End Denver To Everett Service In October|url=https://myeverettnews.com/2021/07/19/united-to-end-denver-to-everett-service-in-october/|work=MyEverettNews|location=Everett, Wa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327164309/https://myeverettnews.com/2021/07/19/united-to-end-denver-to-everett-service-in-october/|archive-date=March 27, 2023}}

Alaska gradually added service from Paine Field throughout 2021, and in April 2022, announced they would resume their full pre-pandemic schedule of 18 peak daily departures. They also announced the beginning of mainline Boeing 737 service to the airport, supplementing the existing E-175 service from regional operator Horizon Air.{{cite news |last=Podsada |first=Janice |date=February 17, 2022 |title=Alaska launches Boeing 737 service at Paine Field in Everett |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/alaska-launches-boeing-737-service-at-paine-field-in-everett/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=February 17, 2022}}

The county government renamed the airport to Seattle Paine Field International Airport on July 18, 2023. The new name is meant to advertise the airport's proximity to Seattle.{{cite news |last=Podsada |first=Janice |date=July 18, 2023 |title=Everett's Paine Field is now Seattle Paine Field International Airport |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/everetts-paine-field-is-now-seattle-paine-field-international-airport/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=July 18, 2023}} The Washington Air National Guard plans to transfer {{convert|14|acre|ha}} at Paine Field to the Snohomish County government for industrial use and to expand an existing access road.{{cite news |last=Podsada |first=Janice |date=December 15, 2023 |title='Great value': Air National Guard cedes airport parcels to Paine Field |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/great-value-air-national-guard-cedes-airport-parcels-to-paine-field/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=December 16, 2023}}

File:Paine Field Passenger Terminal interior.jpg

The new passenger terminal is located on the east side of the airport, near the intersection of Airport Road and 100th Street Southwest. Adjacent to the control tower, it has two gates and an additional hardstand space. The terminal includes a check-in area, a single TSA security checkpoint, a lobby with 300 seats, a coffee shop, a bar, and a food stand operated by Beecher's Handmade Cheese.{{cite news |last=Baskas |first=Harriet |date=February 27, 2019 |title=Paine Field: What to expect when 'Seattle's second airport' opens March 4 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2019/02/27/paine-field-seattle-airport/3003698002/ |work=USA Today |access-date=April 1, 2019}}

The lobby also has a curated display case with aviation memorabilia that represent the history of Paine Field, Alaska Airlines, and United Airlines; additional public artwork is installed in the parking lot and outside the building, including a statue of Topliff Olin Paine.{{cite news |last=Salyer |first=Sharon |date=March 27, 2019 |title=Art 'adds to the whole vibe' of Paine Field's new terminal |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/life/art-adds-to-the-whole-vibe-of-paine-fields-new-terminal/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=April 1, 2019}} The terminal also has valet parking, curbside drop-off areas, and a ride-hail/taxi stand.

The terminal was named the best regional airport in the world by Monocle magazine and one of the best small airports in the United States by USA Today.{{cite news |last=McIntosh |first=Andrew |date=May 24, 2019 |title=Monocle Magazine names new Paine Field terminal world's best regional airport |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2019/05/24/monocle-magazine-names-new-paine-field-terminal.html |work=Puget Sound Business Journal |access-date=December 19, 2019}}{{cite news |last=McIntosh |first=Andrew |date=December 19, 2019 |title=Paine Field on the short list for USA best small airports award |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2019/12/19/paine-field-takes-on-the-short-list-for-usa-best.html |work=Puget Sound Business Journal |access-date=December 19, 2019}}

At the time of its full launch in May 2019, Paine Field had 26 daily arrivals and departures on Alaska Airlines through their regional subsidiaries, as well as San Juan Airlines. The earliest departure was scheduled at 6 a.m. and the latest departure was 9:05 p.m.{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Chuck |date=January 10, 2019 |title=We've compiled timetables for Paine Field passenger service |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/weve-compiled-timetables-for-paine-field-passenger-service/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 5, 2019}} As of June 2022, Paine Field has 18 daily departures to 9 destinations. Most Alaska Airlines flights are operated by Horizon Air, though Alaska Airlines also operates a number of mainline Boeing 737 jets to supplement the regional carrier.

{{Airport destination list|3rdcoltitle = Refs

| {{nowrap|Alaska Airlines}} | Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, San Diego, San Francisco
Seasonal: Honolulu,{{cn|date=May 2025}} Palm Springs{{cn|date=May 2025}} |

| {{nowrap|Frontier Airlines}} | Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix–Sky Harbor{{cite web |title=Paine Field adds new budget carrier, Frontier Airlines|url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/paine-field-adds-new-budget-carrier-frontier-airlines/ |website=Herald.net |access-date=4 March 2025}} |{{cite web|title=Route Map|url=https://www.flyfrontier.com/travel/my-trips/route-map/?mobile=true}}

}}

{{Location map+ |USA_West |width=750 |float=center

|caption=Destinations from Paine Field
{{font color | red | Red}} = Year-round destination
{{font color | green | Green }} = Seasonal destination
{{font color | blue | Blue }} = Future destination

|places=

{{Location map~ |USA_West |lat=47.5422 |long=-122.1653 |position=right |label=

{{Location map~ |USA_West |lat=33.4032|long=-117.5206|position=top|label=Orange County|label_size=90 |marksize=7 }}

{{Location map~ |mark = Green pog.svg |USA_West |lat=33.8303 |long=-116.5070 |position=right |label={{nowrap|Palm Springs}}|label_size=90 |marksize=7 }}

{{Location map~ |USA_West |lat=33.434167|long=-112.011667|position=top|label=Phoenix-Sky Harbor|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}{{Location map~ |USA_West |lat=36.083697|long=-115.153873|position=left|label=Las Vegas|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}

{{Location map~ |USA_West |lat=33.941381|long=-118.408619|position=left |label=Los Angeles|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}

{{Location map~ |USA_West |lat=32.7338|long=-117.1933|position=left|label=San Diego|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}

{{Location map~ |USA_West |lat=37.3708|long=-122.2230 |position=under |label=San Francisco|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}

{{Location map~ |mark = Red pog.svg |USA_West |lat=39.86167|long=-104.67306 |position=under |label=Denver|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}

}}

{{Location map+ |Hawaii |width=436 |float=right |alt=Hawaii destinations from Paine Field

|caption=Hawaii Destinations from Paine Field
{{font color | red | Red}} = Year-round destination
{{font color | green | Green }} = Seasonal destination
{{font color | blue | Blue }} = Future destination

|places=

{{Location map~ |mark = Green pog.svg |Hawaii |lat=21.3069|long=-157.8583|position=bottom|label=Honolulu (Oahu)|label_size=90 |marksize=7 }}

}}

There are no scheduled cargo flights to Paine Field as of December 2024. Starting in 2021, FedEx Express briefly operated a service to Memphis operating out of the Dreamlifter Operations Center previously used by Boeing after production of the Boeing 787 was moved to Boeing South Carolina.{{cite news |last1=Podsada |first1=Janice |title=FedEx to begin weekday flights between Paine Field, Memphis |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/fedex-to-begin-weekday-flights-between-paine-field-memphis/ |access-date=August 11, 2021 |work=HeraldNet.com |date=August 6, 2021}} This service has since ended. The airport does see regular chartered cargo operations.

{{Airport-Statistics|iata=PAE}}

Paine Field's passenger terminal is located west of the intersection of Airport Road and 100th Street SW.{{cite news |last=Haglund |first=Noah |date=February 28, 2017 |title=Paine commercial flights must meet noise, traffic edicts |url=http://www.heraldnet.com/news/everett-paine-field-passenger-flights-noise-traffic/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=August 10, 2017}} Airport Road continues south towards State Route 99 and Interstate 5, the region's two primary north–south highways, and north towards State Route 526. State Route 526, a short freeway spur, connects the Paine Field area to Mukilteo and Everett via Interstate 5 and Evergreen Way.{{cite web |title=Driving Directions |url=https://www.painefield.com/149/Driving-Directions |publisher=Paine Field |access-date=August 10, 2017}}{{cite report |date=September 2012 |title=Snohomish County Airport Environmental Assessment |chapter=Affected Environment |page=C20 |chapter-url=https://www.painefield.com/DocumentCenter/Home/View/152 |publisher=Snohomish County |access-date=August 10, 2017}}

The passenger terminal has two bus stops that are served by Community Transit and Everett Transit. A bus stop in the departures/arrivals area of the terminal is served by Everett Transit Route 8 with direct service to Everett Station.{{cite web |title=Preview of New Routes March 2019 |url=http://everetttransit.org/289/Service-Change |publisher=Everett Transit |access-date=November 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605013547/http://everetttransit.org/289/Service-Change |archive-date=June 5, 2019 |url-status=dead }} Community Transit operates one route along Airport Road, serving stops that are within walking distance of the terminal. The Swift Green Line, a bus rapid transit route, debuted in late March 2019 and connects Paine Field to Seaway Transit Center, south Everett, Mill Creek, and northern Bothell. It runs every 10 minutes midday on weekdays and 20 minutes at other times.{{cite news |last=Giordano |first=Lizz |date=March 25, 2019 |title=Swift Green Line starts rolling, from Bothell to Boeing |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/swift-green-line-starts-rolling-from-bothell-to-boeing/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 25, 2019}}{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=March 22, 2019 |title=Swifter bus service begins in Mill Creek and north Bothell this weekend |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/swifter-bus-service-begins-in-mill-creek-and-north-bothell-this-weekend/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=March 25, 2019}}

Sound Transit, the regional transit system, also plans to build a Link light rail extension to Everett in 2036, with a stop in the Paine Field area.{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=November 14, 2016 |title=Where Sound Transit 3 projects could speed up or slow down |page=B1 |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/where-sound-transit-3-projects-could-speed-up-or-slow-down/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=August 10, 2017}}

• On July 29, 1962, a USAF North American Sabreliner on an orientation flight lost hydraulics and overshot the runway on landing, subsequently going through a barrier and hitting an embankment. Both occupants were killed.{{ASN accident|id=19620729-2|accessdate=July 24, 2021|title=61-0661}}
• On October 8, 1996, a Cessna 210 Centurion crashed just north of the airport while attempting to land in heavy fog, killing the pilot. The plane struck a utility pole and several trees before coming to a stop {{convert|100|yd}} short of the runway, narrowly missing State Route 526 in the process.{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Kyle R. |title=No warning before plane crash |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EB5388DC89D5B4F |access-date=December 5, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |date=October 9, 1996 |page=B1 |via=NewsBank}}
• On June 10, 2015, a Beechcraft Bonanza crashed immediately after takeoff, going down in a wooded area south of the airport between the main runway and Mukilteo Speedway. Of the two occupants on the plane, one died at the scene while the other survived with bone fractures.{{cite news |last1=Clarridge |first1=Christine |title=1 dead, 1 injured in crash of small plane near Paine Field |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/2-injured-in-crash-of-small-plane-near-paine-field/ |access-date=January 26, 2022 |work=The Seattle Times |date=June 10, 2015}}
• On May 2, 2017, a Piper PA-32-260 crashed immediately after takeoff south of the airport, striking a power line and several cars at the intersection of Harbour Pointe Boulevard and Mukilteo Speedway; the pilot reported losing power beforehand. Both the pilot and the sole passenger survived the crash uninjured; two people on the ground reported minor injuries.{{cite news |last1=Bush |first1=Evan |title=Plane lost power before crashing on Mukilteo street, says pilot |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/plane-lost-power-before-crashing-on-mukilteo-street-says-pilot/ |access-date=December 5, 2021 |work=The Seattle Times |date=May 3, 2017}}
• On February 16, 2024, a C-152 impacted trees and crashed in Japanese Gulch, Mukilteo, near the north end of the field because of engine issues. The sole occupant, the pilot, was not injured.{{cite news|title=Small plane reportedly crashes north of Paine Field Airport|newspaper=Everett Daily Herald|via=MSN|date=February 16, 2024|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/small-plane-reportedly-crashes-north-of-paine-field-airport/ar-BB1ipjoI}}{{cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/351756|title=Accident description for N3538V at Aviation Safety Network|website=aviationsafetynetwork.org|accessdate= August 13, 2024}}

• List of airports in Washington
• Hamburg Finkenwerder Airport, the airport attached to the Airbus assembly facility

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Paine Field}}

• [http://www.painefield.com/ Paine Field website] (general aviation)
• [https://flypainefield.com/ Paine Field Passenger Terminal website]
• [http://www.futureofflight.org/ Future of Flight Aviation Center website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060312155637/http://www.painefield.com/pf_pdf/mediated_role_master.pdf MRD Mediated Role determination]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20191121032351/https://postalmuseum.si.edu/airmail/pilot/pilot_rest/pilot_rest_paine.html Biography of Lt Topliff Olin Paine] - National Postal Museum
• [http://nw.epls.org/cgi-bin/pquery.exe?CISOROOT=%2FHerald&CISOOP=adv&CISOFIELD1=subjec&CISOBOX1=Airplanes&CISORESTMP=%2Fqbuild%2Ftest_template1.html&CISOVIEWTMP=%2Fqbuild%2Ftest_template2.html&CISOCOLS=5&CISOROWS=3&CISOSTART=1 Everett Public Library's Digital Collection/Northwest Room/Aviation]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060103061531/http://www.boeing.com/commercial/facilities/ Boeing Major Production Facilities] - More information about the Boeing plant at Paine Field
• [http://historicflight.org Historic Flight Foundation] - Vintage Military Aircraft
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080809234619/http://painefieldhangars.com/ Hangar 201 Project] - Hangar Space at Paine Field
• {{FAA-diagram|00142}}
• {{FAA-procedures|PAE}}

{{US-airport-ga|PAE}}

{{Airports in Washington}}

{{Everett, Washington}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1936 establishments in Washington (state)

Category:Airports in Snohomish County, Washington

Category:Mukilteo, Washington

Category:Buildings and structures in Everett, Washington

Category:Works Progress Administration in Washington (state)

Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Snohomish County, Washington

Category:Airports established in 1936