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| Allegiant Airlines | Jul '08 |
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| By Terry Stephens |
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The decades-old debate over allowing commercial airline service at Snohomish County Airport/Paine Field (PAE) is heating up again in Everett, Wash. Allegiant Airlines in Las Vegas, Nev., one of the nation's most profitable entertainment-destination airlines, submitted a service offer recently.
Allegiant officials want to begin offering commercial passenger service from Paine Field to Las Vegas and, perhaps, to other recreation and vacation locations in the future. The airline likes the statistics it found in the county's demographics, including a 2004 survey showing that tens of thousands of county residents drive for hours through heavily congested traffic to fly from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) each year.
In a letter to county officials, the airline said Paine Field is an excellent candidate for service in an area that has the right demographics and location. The airline's major flight destinations also include Orlando and Phoenix. It operates a fleet of 37 Boeing MD-80 jet aircraft carrying up to 150 passengers each.
Immediate opposition came from the majority of the Snohomish County government leaders that oversee the county airport operations, including Aaron Reardon, Snohomish County executive, and four members of the five-member county council. They issued public statements discouraging the airline's attempt to begin service at Paine Field and passed a resolution against airline passenger service, voting 4-1.
Although the market for airline service from Paine Field is viable and improves each year with the county's rapid population growth, some residents who live close to the airport have been vocally opposing such services. The main objection of Save Our Communities, the only organized opposition group, is that any additional noise or aircraft operations beyond existing activity would affect their quality of living and property tax values.
Presently, thousands of general aviation aircraft flights operate each year from Paine Field, as well as hundreds of regular 747, 767 and 777 airliner operations tied to the Boeing assembly plant at the north end of the runway. Later this year, 787 Dreamliner flights also will begin. Other heavy aircraft flights regularly operate from the airport because of Aviation Technical Services' operations for major airline fleets.
In recent years, supporters point out, federally imposed, strict noise standards have quieted jet airliners dramatically, yet opponents are adamant that opening the door to commercial air service with one airline, such as Alligiant, would soon lead to a crushing influx of other airline traffic.
Hugh Townsend, Snohomish County Economic Development Council board member, has said publicly that the aviation industry is responsible for 22 percent of the wages earned in the county and a significant portion of the tax revenues. He noted that it's a well-managed county asset that's underutilized and provides a major economic development tool for the county and its tax base.
A significant hurdle for county officials opposing the airline offer is that the Federal Aviation Administration has poured tens of millions of dollars into the airport's maintenance and development for decades. Breaking contracts with the government by refusing to allow an airline to operate from the public airfield could mean paying back those grants and then maintaining the airport solely with county taxpayer funding.
Carol Key, manager of the Seattle Airports District Office for the FAA, reminded county officials they are bound by federal agreements to allow commercial air service at the airport if an airline wants to provide it. The county is not obligated to pay for improvements to the airport, including a passenger terminal, to help an airline provide service, she said, but the county must negotiate in good faith with any interested airline and provide space if it's available.
Allegiant Airline officials are being quiet on the issue, but they have said publicly that they are fully aware of the local opposition as well as local support and want to pursue the opportunity at Paine Field.
County officials have said they will do what is necessary to maintain their relationship with federal agencies but will not do anything to help Allegiant Airlines establish commercial air service at Paine Field.
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