Bar chart from a LeighFisher forecast (June 2022, updated August 2023) showing historical and projected total aircraft operations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, broken down by passenger airlines, all-cargo airlines, and other operations. Operations dipped to 296,000 in 2020 (COVID impact), recovered to 429,000 by 2023, and are forecast to grow to 567,000 by 2038.

Notes

A bar chart showing historical and forecasted aircraft operations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport from 2011 to 2038. The chart displays data for passenger airlines, all-cargo airlines, and other operations, with total operations growing from approximately 296,000 in 2011 to a projected 567,000 by 2038.

Sidebar On/Off

As the source for federal transportation grants, the Puget Sound Regional Council was charged with developing a system to meet the growing need for commercial aviation. When the search for a second airport failed, they authorized the Port of Seattle to build the Third Runway, with a mandate to develop a noise abatement and mitigation program. In their effort to stop the Third Runway, the ACC argued over every detail of the Port's efforts--including property buyouts and sound insulation. The dispute was meant to be settled by a three member Expert Arbitration Panel. This is their final report. It finds 2-1, that the Port's program was insufficient in several respects. Despite that, funding for the Third Runway was approved by the PSRC, and the 'Port Package' program, proceeded largely unchanged. Expert Arbitration Panel's final decision finding that the Port of Seattle had not shown sufficient reduction in real on-the-ground noise impacts to satisfy noise reduction conditions required for approval of a third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport. The majority decision concluded the Port's noise abatement programs were insufficient despite being impressive in scope.

continue...

V V

Notes

Message