Everett, Wash.
Published: Friday, October 3, 2008

IN OUR VIEW

Horizon offers exciting future at Paine Field

 Horizon Air's announcement Thursday that it wants to offer daily flights from Paine Field to Portland and Spokane is a game-changing development, one that could finally bring limited passenger service to Snohomish County.

With it will come long-sought convenience for local business and leisure travelers, a boost for county tourism and a new draw for employers thinking of locating here.

A future that includes some passenger service at Paine Field was all but assured last spring, when the Federal Aviation Administration told county officials that federal funding for the airport requires them to negotiate with interested airlines in good faith. Failure to do so could result in the loss of FAA money for airport improvements, which would put Boeing and other aerospace businesses in the area -- the very foundation of the local economy -- at unacceptable risk.

Opponents of passenger service at Snohomish County's airport, whose views are deeply held, should take heart in Horizon's pledge to use some of the quietest commercial airplanes in service today. Horizon says the 76-seat Bombardier Q400 turboprops it would use here are already successful at city center airports with strict noise limitations. The planes also produce 30 percent fewer emissions than similar-size jets, the Seattle-based airline says.

Horizon's final decision regarding Paine Field flights will depend on overall cost-effectiveness, company vice president Dan Russo said, suggesting it will be looking for the county or someone else to foot most or all of the costs for needed infrastructure -- a passenger terminal, security screening, baggage handling and boarding equipment. That's a potentially tall order for the county, given the budget shortfall it faces. But other investors, from the private sector or even municipalities that support air service, could play a role by putting up money that could be repaid over time through airline, passenger and parking fees.

Horizon would bring a welcome alternative to long drives to Portland and Spokane; same-day, round-trip service for business travelers that economic-development officials have long sought; and a jumping-off point for local vacation travelers who can connect through Portland to other destinations. It would also offer a new and easy way for tourists to visit Snohomish County and pump new dollars into the economy.

Traffic congestion between Snohomish County and Sea-Tac Airport, along with the county's recent and projected growth, have created a market for passenger service at Paine Field. That, combined with the FAA's non-discrimination rules, made such flights inevitable. County officials should resolve to work constructively with Horizon as a new, locally-based partner.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA