TagForecast(50)

This document is Part 4 of a Master Plan study for Sea-Tac International Airport, focusing on trends and forecasts for the Central Puget Sound Region. It examines population and economic growth data to project future air traffic demand, noting that the four-county area around Seattle held over 1.9 million people in 1970—56% of Washington State's population. While the region grew rapidly through the 1950s and 1960s, the plan anticipates more modest growth in the 1970s relative to national averages.

Snohomish County is developing a 20-year Master Plan for Paine Field Airport near Everett, WA, driven by growing aviation demand and Sea-Tac International Airport approaching its capacity limits. The plan examines existing facilities, passenger and cargo forecasts, and development alternatives, with passenger volume projected to exceed 4 million annually by 2040. Public input is being gathered through online open houses and community engagement sessions throughout the planning process.

A 2021 EUROCONTROL presentation examines how COVID-19 devastated European aviation, with flights dropping as much as 88% below 2019 levels and airlines, airports, and air navigation service providers suffering €56.2 billion in net losses. The presentation outlines three recovery scenarios ranging from an optimistic return to 2019 traffic levels by 2024 (if vaccines proved effective quickly) to a prolonged recovery not expected until 2029 if vaccines failed. It frames the crisis as an opportunity to advance aviation sustainability, including reduced carbon emissions and noise impacts.

The FAA Aerospace Forecast for Fiscal Years 2019–2039 projects steady growth in U.S. air travel, with domestic passenger traffic expected to increase an average of 1.8 percent per year over the next two decades. The report highlights how U.S. airlines have restructured since the 2007–09 recession, achieving ten consecutive years of profitability by cutting costs and consolidating operations. Increased flight activity and a growing commercial aircraft fleet may have implications for noise levels at busy airports such as Seattle-Tacoma International.

This September 2015 technical report, prepared by Leigh Fisher for the Port of Seattle, provides long-range forecasts of aviation activity at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as part of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan. It examines historical and projected trends in enplaned passengers, air cargo, and aircraft operations, drawing on regional socioeconomic data such as population growth, employment, and income in the Seattle-Tacoma area. The forecasts are intended to support future airport planning decisions, including infrastructure and capacity needs.