This page provides a portal for information concerning the progress towards a second airport, which was being studied and debated by the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Committee (CACC.)
Timeline
2019: A second airport was originally to be sited by 2021 and up and running by 2040. The most likely location at that time was Moses Lake based on its ability to handle the largest aircraft, proximity to I-90 and strong support from regional legislators such as Tom Dent, which meant that this second airport focus was cargo flights.
2020: COVID put the group’s work into a slower gear, however they continued to meet. Their public outreach was noticeably weak, which created the impression that they were trying to keep residents at prospective sites from going ballistic.
2022: A second airport site was slated to be chosen in 2023, with the goal to be up and running by 2040. It will likely be a ‘green field’ site in Pierce or Thurston Counties, which means its focus will likely be on Air Taxis (flights under 70 seats.) Note the frequent use of the word ‘likely’.
2022: But wait! π Although the CACC mandate specifically precludes any location within King County, a site in Enumclaw was added to the mix by WSDOT because, using the CACC’s own scoring system it scored highest on every metric. Vigorous opposition from all four communities quickly mobilized.
2023: With the passage of HB 1791, the CACC officially ended at its June 9 Meeting having made no selection. It is meant to be replaced by a new committee, but that new group has literally no timeline or mandate.
Current Status
As of June 9, 2023, the search for a second airport is effectively dead.
What does that mean for residents near Sea-Tac Airport? The short answer is, as always: if you live near Sea-Tac Airport and you are hoping that a second airport will provide some relief from the negative impacts you currently experience? Nope.
A second airport will never, ever, ever, NEVER reduce the number of operations at Sea-Tac Airport. The primary goal for every player in the State and Federal government’s transportation systems is to maximize Sea-Tac Airport under any and all circumstances.
Read: Peace With Honor
The CACC
Meetings
CACC Membership
| Voting Members | |
| 1. Representative of commercial service airports and ports β County with a population of two million or more | vacant |
| 2. Representative of commercial service airports and ports β Port in eastern WA with a runway of at least 13,500β in length | Stroud Kunkle |
| 3. Representative of commercial service airports and ports β Commercial service airport in eastern WA located in a county with a population of 400,000 or more | Larry Krauter |
| 4. Representative of commercial service airports and ports β Association of ports | Jim Kuntz |
| 5. Representative from the airline industry and private sector | Shane Jones |
| 6. Representative from the airline industry and private sector Lorin Carr | Lorin Carr |
| 7. Representative from the airline industry and private sector | Andrea Goodpasture |
| 8. Citizen representative from eastern Washington | Mark Englizian |
| Citizen representative from western Washington | Steve Edmison |
| 11. Representative from the trucking industry | |
| 12. Representative from a community organization which understands the impacts of a large commercial aviation facility on a community | Arif Ghouse Airport Director, Paine Field |
| 13. Representative from a statewide environmental organization | Bryce Gadon |
| 14. Representative from the Department of Commerce | Robin Toth |
| 15. Representative from the Division of Aeronautics (Aviation) | |
| Non-voting Members | |
| 1. Representative from the WA state Aviation Alliance (WSAA) | Warren Hendrickson |
| 2. Representative from the Department of Defense | Robert Rodriguez |
| 3. Senate member from the two largest caucuses in the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate Senator | Jim Honeyford |
| 4. Senate member from the two largest caucuses in the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate | Senator Karen Keiser |
| 5. House of Representatives member from the two largest caucuses, appointed by the Speaker of the House Representative | Tom Dent |
| 6. House of Representatives member from the two largest caucuses, appointed by the Speaker of the House Representative | Tina Orwall |
| 7. Representative from the Division of Aeronautics of the Dept. of Transportation | Robert Hodgman |
| 8. Representative from an eastern WA metropolitan planning organization | Lois Bollenback |
| 9. Representative from a western WA metropolitan planning organization | Jason Thibedeau |
| 10. Representative from an eastern WA regional airport | Tony Bean |
| 11. Representative from a western WA regional airport Rudy Rudolph" | Rudy Rudolph |
| 12. Multi-Modal Planning | Kerri Woehl |
Blog Posts
Articles from around the web
Another airport isnβt the answer to the regionβs transportation needs
Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission Meeting 09/23/2022
It wonβt be easy, but WA can launch the airport of the future
JDA Journal: Washington State legislatorβs Aviation Initiative
New airport would put Washington’s climate goals out of reach, critics argue
Picking a location for a new airport, other aviation issues before lawmakers
Seattle looking for suitable site to build second major international airport
Seattle needs a new Sea-Tac-sized airport. No one wants it near them
South Thurston County location under consideration for βSea-Tac-sizeβ airport
State planners mention Yakima as βwilling partnerβ in new airport
State Rep: βNone of these locations are suitableβ for a future airport
WA needs a new set of thinkers to tackle the idea of a second international airport | Opinion
We Desperately Need a New Airport: New Effort Seems Stymied from the Start
Why prospects that Pierce, Thurston could be home to new 2-runway airport just improved
