EVERETT— You can’t book a flight to or from Paine Field’s new passenger terminal yet — commercial air service isn’t expected to start until early next year — but you can apply for a job there.
As the terminal nears completion, some employers, including one airline, have begun advertising terminal-related jobs.
Help-wanted ads are popping up online, and include openings for airline service agents, baggage handlers and Transportation Security Administration officers.
Three airlines — Alaska, United and Southwest — are expected to serve Everett with 24 daily passenger flights to 10 cities.
Everett-based Propeller Airports, which is building the two-gate terminal, will manage it under a lease agreement with the airport’s owner, Snohomish County.
Brett Smith, president and CEO of Propeller Airports, said he expects commercial air service will create a need for about 300 jobs.
Inside the $40 million terminal, carpet has been laid, water fountains and baggage conveyor belts have been installed, and the polish is on some walls and ceilings. Outside, new blacktop leads the way to the soaring steel-and-glass structure and a swooping curbside canopy. Commercial service is pending Federal Aviation Administration approval.
Alaska Airlines, which is proposing 13 flights per day from Paine Field, is seeking part-time and full-time passenger service agents.
Agents assist travelers in the lobby, at the gates and at baggage claim, Alaska Airlines spokesman Ray Lane said. Alaska isn’t saying how many agents will be needed. The staffing levels are “still being worked on,” Lane said.
At this point, Southwest Airlines, which is proposing five daily flights, has not announced its staffing needs.
United Airlines, which is planning six flights per day, did not respond to a request for comment.
Propeller Airports has selected McGee Air Services of Renton, a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines, to handle aircraft cleaning, baggage handling and other passenger services for all three carriers. Typically, each airline negotiates its own ground-handlers, but Propeller’s president said a single company will streamline operations. McGee expects to employ about 70 union-represented workers at Paine Field.
Open positions with McGee at Paine Field can be viewed on the company’s website.
The Transportation Security Administration is recruiting for passenger screening operations.
The federal agency is accepting applications for full-time and part-time TSA officers at Paine Field. The jobs could include weekend, holiday and evening work. The airport will operate 18 hours a day, seven days a week.
Rob Prosch, the associate dean of aviation at Everett Community College’s two-year Aviation Maintenance Technician School, said he is aware of at least one student in the aviation maintenance program who’s been hired to work at the terminal, which is just west of the school near the airport control tower.
“Alaska Air Group has been in,” Prosch said. “Part of the hiring process they did last spring was in anticipation of opening the terminal here.”
Janice Podsada; jpodsada@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3097; Twitter: JanicePods
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