A timeline of the history of Paine Field

1936

Construction of the Snohomish County Airport begins and is intended as a commercial airport for civil travel.

1940

The United States Army Air Corps leases the property and renames it Everett Army Air Field.

1941

The Earl Faulkner Post of the American Legion in Everett suggests the airport be renamed in honor of Everett pilot Lt. Topliff Olin Paine. The airfield is christened Paine Army Airfield,

1945

At the end of World War II, airport ownerships reverts back to Snohomish County, but it’s short-lived. The airport is reactivated for military use by the newly formed U.S. Air Force.

1951

The Air Force renames the airport Paine Field Air Force Base.

1966

Boeing selects the airport as the site to build the massive assembly plant for the new 747 jumbo jet. Two years later the property returns to the county and is known as Paine Field/Snohomish County Airport.

2019

A commercial passenger terminal at the airport opens. It is built and operated by Propeller Airports, a privately owned company.

2021

After two years, United Airlines discontinue its flights out of Paine Filed. This leaves Alaska Airlines as the only commercial air carrier at the airport.

2022

In February, Alaska Airlines starts Boeing 737 service at Paine Field. The larger plane allows the airline to accommodate more passengers on each flight. In October, a state commission named Snohomish County airport as the best bet for expanding passenger airline service at an existing airport to meet future demand for flights in the Seattle area.

April 2023

In April, Joshua Marcy is tapped to serve as the airport’s director. That July the airport changes names from Snohomish County Airport Paine Field to Seattle Paine Field International Airport.