Washington state identifies 6 potential sites for new airport
Washington – The Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission released a report that outlines the future of the state’s aviation industry.
Among the report’s recommendations are a preliminary list of six sites for a future airport with expansion potential and a proposal to meet near-term aviation demand at two or more existing airports while the work to locate a new airport progresses. Current modeling projects that demand at Seattle Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) will exceed capacity by 2027.
The six preliminary airport sites are Arlington Municipal Airport, Bremerton National Airport, Paine Field (Snohomish County Airport), Sanderson Field Airport (Shelton), Tacoma Narrows Airport (Gig Harbor), and Ed Carlson Memorial Field (South Lewis County Airport). These airports could meet some of the demand for air passenger service, air cargo operations, and general aviation.
Olympia Regional Airport and McChord Field possess potential for additional capacity, but both lack sponsor support, according to the report.
The commission developed six site selection factors in compiling the preliminary list:
- Available land.
- Existing facilities.
- Environmental constraints.
- Proximity to population centers.
- Airport sponsor.
- Multimodal transportation.
Created by the Legislature in July 2019, the commission also is seeking to extend its final recommendation deadline from 2022 to 2024.