Opposition Growing to Plans For New Sea-Tac Reliever Airport

Three possible site locations are under consideration as state officials predict the airport will max out its capacity by 2050.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, February 03, 2023 at 06:07 PM ET

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Pierce County, Washington already has busy airspace, as seen taking off from Pierce County-Thun Field (KPLU). Pilots must be mindful of a U.S. Air Force base to the west and the Class Delta that belongs to Tacoma Narrows Airport (KTIW). [Credit: Meg Godlewski]

Key Takeaways:

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is projected to reach capacity by 2050, driving the need for a new 3,000-acre commercial aviation and cargo airport.
Initial proposals for three "greenfield" sites south of Seattle (two in Pierce County, one in Thurston County) have faced overwhelming, "across-the-board" opposition from residents, local governments, and the military, making their development unlikely.
Yakima Valley on the east side of the state is emerging as a primary alternative, showing local interest and significant economic potential, though it would require substantial improvements to cross-mountain transportation infrastructure.

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A proposal to build a 3,000-acre airport to accommodate airline and cargo traffic south of Seattle continues to run into across-the-board opposition.

In October, the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission (CACC) announced they were studying three locations—known as greenfields—for the construction of a new airport to handle passengers and cargo. The project, however, sparked opposition, which has been getting larger and louder ever since.