New Airport Planned for West Central Washington

Sea-Tac International Airport will reach capacity in 2050, according to Washington state aviation officials.

Friday, October 28, 2022 at 04:23 PM ET

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Washington state aviation officials say Sea-Tac International Airport will reach capacity in 2050. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Washington state officials anticipate Sea-Tac International Airport will reach capacity by 2050 and are actively seeking a location for a new airport to alleviate future congestion.
The Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission (CACC) has narrowed its search for a new airport site to three locations in rural Pierce and Thurston counties, south of Seattle.
Strong opposition has emerged from local county council members and residents against the proposed sites, citing concerns about environmental impact, critical aquifer protection, lack of infrastructure, and quality of life.
Beyond a new airport, the CACC is also recommending capacity additions at Snohomish County Airport (Paine Field), and Sea-Tac itself is planning an expansion of its C Concourse starting in 2023.

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The year 2050 seems a long time away—unless you are using it as a metric for when a critical piece of infrastructure, such as an airline hub and city airport, will reach capacity.

That’s what state aviation officials in Washington are saying will happen to Sea-Tac International Airport (KSEA), and they are actively looking for a location to build a new airport to help alleviate the growing congestion.