Washington Airports: Complete Guide to WA Airports 2024

Boeing Field - King County International (BFI)

One of the busiest general aviation airports in the United States, located 5 miles south of downtown Seattle. Hub for UPS Airlines and home to the Museum of Flight.

• Operations: 183,268 aircraft operations annually (502/day)
• Runways: 10,007 ft and 3,709 ft asphalt runways
• Service: Kenmore Air commuter flights, JSX regional jets
• Facilities: Multiple FBOs, Boeing delivery center
• History: Founded 1928, Seattle's original airport until 1944

Other Major General Aviation Airports

Washington State Airport Statistics: 121 Public Airports, 234 Private Airports, 160 Heliports, 17 Seaplane Bases, 3 Ultralight Facilities, 8 International Airports

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is the largest airport in Washington State by passenger volume, serving 52,640,716 passengers in 2024, making it the 9th busiest airport in the United States. It is the primary aviation gateway for the Pacific Northwest region and serves as a major hub for Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

By land area, Spokane International Airport (GEG) is the largest commercial airport in Washington at 6,140 acres (9.6 square miles), though it serves significantly fewer passengers at 4.3 million annually.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport offers nonstop service to 36 international destinations in 2024, served by 39 different airlines. The airport experienced significant international growth in 2024, with eight new international services debuting including routes to Taipei (STARLUX Airlines, China Airlines, Delta), Munich (Lufthansa), Chongqing (Hainan Airlines), Toronto and Liberia Costa Rica (Alaska Airlines), and Manila (Philippine Airlines).

International passenger traffic increased 13.7% in 2024 compared to 2023, with European travel up 27% above 2019 levels and Mexico travel up an impressive 101% above 2019. Alaska Airlines has announced future service to London and Reykjavik beginning in 2026.

Four major Washington airports offer TSA PreCheck security screening:

• Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) - All five checkpoints: South, Central, Charlie, North, and FIS
• Spokane International (GEG) - Both GEGC and GEG-A/B checkpoints
• Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) - PSCZ checkpoint
• Bellingham International (BLI) - BLIZ checkpoint

Smaller regional airports including Walla Walla (ALW), Pangborn Memorial (EAT), Pullman-Moscow (PUW), and Yakima (YKM) do not currently offer TSA PreCheck lanes, though standard security screening is available at all commercial airports.

Spokane International Airport (GEG) is served by seven airlines offering nonstop service to more than 20 destinations across the continental United States. The major carriers include Alaska Airlines (the primary carrier), American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Allegiant Air.

In 2024, American Airlines announced new service from Charlotte to Spokane, expanding the airport's connectivity to the East Coast. The airport completed the first phase of its Terminal Renovation and Expansion (TREX) Program in June 2024, adding three new gates primarily used by Alaska Airlines, along with new ticket counters and passenger amenities.

Spokane credits expanded service to Chicago, Dallas, Denver, and Los Angeles for driving passenger growth to a record 4,264,875 travelers in 2024. By 2030, the airport expects to serve more than 6.2 million passengers annually.

Paine Field (PAE) in Everett is an excellent alternative to Seattle-Tacoma International for travelers living north of Seattle. Commercial passenger service began in March 2019, and the airport offers several advantages over SeaTac including shorter security lines, less congestion, easier parking access, and proximity to north Seattle communities.

Alaska Airlines (operating as Horizon Air with Embraer 175 jets) is the primary carrier, offering direct service to eight destinations: Honolulu, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orange County, Palm Springs, Phoenix, San Diego, and San Francisco. Frontier Airlines will begin service in June 2025, adding more route options.

The passenger terminal features three gates (1, 2A, and 2B) and can accommodate up to 24 departures per day. While route selection is more limited than SeaTac's 130 destinations, Paine Field's convenience and efficiency make it ideal for travelers to western U.S. destinations who value a stress-free airport experience.

Seattle-Tacoma Airport parking rates (effective July 1, 2024) vary by location:

On-Airport Parking Garage:

• Terminal Direct Parking (Floor 4): $6 per hour, $39 per day, $273 per week (advance reservation required)
• General Parking (Floors 1-3, 5-8): $5 per hour, $32 per day, $149 per week

Off-Airport Options (with free shuttle service):

• Budget options start at $6.99-$7.99 per day with online reservations
• WallyPark: $10.95-$12.95 per day (covered and uncovered options)
• Jiffy Seattle: $14.99 per day (0.9 miles from airport, 24/7 shuttles)

Free Options: The Cell Phone Lot offers 200 free parking spaces with WiFi for picking up arriving passengers (20-minute limit). The airport also provides 94 electric vehicle charging stalls with free Level 2 charging for parking customers.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's busiest periods occur during summer months and major holidays. In 2024, the airport set monthly passenger records in seven months: February, May, June, July, August, September, and October, with July being the busiest month overall at 5,483,028 passengers.

The single busiest day in Seattle airport history occurred on August 18, 2024, when 75,410 outbound travelers passed through security checkpoints, representing an estimated 198,000 total passengers (outbound, inbound, and connecting) using the airport that day.

Peak travel times typically include:

• Summer vacation months (June-August)
• Major holidays: Thanksgiving week, Christmas/New Year period, Spring Break
• Early morning departures (5:00-8:00 AM) and evening departures (4:00-7:00 PM)

To avoid crowds, consider flying on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays during non-holiday periods, and arrive during midday hours (10:00 AM - 2:00 PM) when possible. TSA PreCheck can significantly reduce security wait times during peak periods.

Alaska Airlines is the dominant carrier at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, accounting for approximately 50% of all seats and operating from its dedicated Concourse C (27 gates) and the North Satellite (20 gates). Alaska uses SEA as its primary hub, connecting the Pacific Northwest to destinations across North America and expanding internationally with new routes to London and Reykjavik planned for 2026.

Delta Air Lines is the second-largest carrier, using SEA as a major hub with operations primarily from Concourse A, portions of Concourse B, and the South Satellite. Delta offers extensive domestic and international service, including routes to Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

Other major carriers include:

• United Airlines: Operates from Concourse A with service to its hub cities
• American Airlines: Based in Concourse D with connections to major U.S. cities
• Southwest Airlines: Operates from Concourse B

In total, 39 airlines serve Seattle with flights to 94 domestic and 36 international destinations. The most frequently served route is Los Angeles, with 319,000 one-way seats and 147 weekly flights operated by Alaska (70), Delta (46), American (14), United (14), and Frontier (3).

Yes, Washington State offers multiple nonstop flights to Hawaii from two airports. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) provides the most extensive Hawaii service with daily nonstop flights to Honolulu (HNL), Maui/Kahului (OGG), Kona (KOA), and Lihue/Kauai (LIH). These routes are primarily operated by Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Hawaiian Airlines.

Paine Field (PAE) in Everett also offers seasonal nonstop service to Honolulu operated by Alaska Airlines, providing a convenient alternative for travelers in northern Washington who want to avoid the larger SeaTac airport.

Flight times to Hawaii from Washington typically range from 5.5 to 6 hours depending on the specific island destination and weather conditions. Alaska Airlines dominates the Hawaii market from Seattle with multiple daily departures year-round, while other carriers may offer seasonal or less frequent service.

Boeing Field, officially known as King County International Airport (BFI), is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the United States, located 5 miles south of downtown Seattle. Despite its name, the airport serves multiple aviation purposes beyond Boeing's operations.

Primary Uses:

• Cargo Operations: Major hub for UPS Airlines and other cargo carriers
• Boeing Manufacturing: Final delivery preparations for Boeing 737 aircraft after first test flights
• General Aviation: Private aircraft operations, corporate jets, and charter flights
• Commuter Service: Kenmore Air operates scheduled seaplane and wheeled aircraft flights; JSX provides regional jet service
• Fixed-Base Operators: Multiple FBOs including Skyservice, Modern Aviation, and Signature Flight Support

Boeing Field handles approximately 183,268 aircraft operations annually (average 502 per day), with 79% general aviation, 15% air taxi, 6% airline, and less than 1% military. The airport features two runways: a 10,007-foot main runway and a 3,709-foot secondary runway.

The airport is also home to the Museum of Flight, one of the largest air and space museums in the world. Founded in 1928 by William E. Boeing, Boeing Field served as Seattle's primary commercial airport until Seattle-Tacoma International opened in 1944.