Paine Field plans terminal expansion with new gates amid rising demand

Propeller Airports, which privately owns the terminal, must coordinate with other entities such as transit companies and county planning bodies to ensure a safe and timely expansion. King 5 notes that this draft plan includes an additional 12 aircraft gates and expanding the passenger terminal footprint to 239,000 square feet if passenger numbers meet projections.

Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers stated in a news release: "Paine Field is not going to be another Sea-Tac (Seattle-Tacoma)." He added that "that is significant but manageable growth for our county airport - bringing economic opportunity while easing the regional pressure on air travel."

Recent announcements indicate strong demand for new routes at Paine Field. Frontier Airlines has introduced three new routes since March 2025. Alaska Airlines launched a daily Everett-Hawaii flight in November 2023 and added service to Honolulu in June 2023.

The FAA approved the airport's expansion in 2019, with support from Propeller CEO as reported by Edmonds Beacon. Construction is estimated to take three to five years with costs projected at $313.2 million for various projects including airfield improvements and ground transportation.

An updated funding estimation cited $297 million needed as part of a long-range plan reported last year by Heraldnet. The county anticipates receiving about 65% from FAA grants, with private sources contributing around 8%, and local airport funds covering the rest.

With work potentially starting later this year, changes may soon unfold at Paine Field. Currently offering 12 direct flights within Western US destinations like Denver, Las Vegas, and Phoenix through Frontier Airlines, more options could be available in three to five years.