Washington Aviation System Plan, Chapter 4: Regional Activity

The Washington Aviation System Plan identifies four Special Emphasis Regions in the state, with the Puget Sound region — encompassing King, Snohomish, Pierce, and Kitsap Counties — standing out as the busiest aviation area. The region is home to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the state's primary commercial airport, along with 27 other public-use airports serving commercial, general aviation, and seaplane operations. As of 2005, the Puget Sound region housed approximately 55 percent of Washington's total population, driving significant demand for air service and making adequate airport capacity a key economic priority.

Notes

Chapter 4 of the Washington Aviation System Plan (WASP), dated July 1, 2009, covering Special Emphasis Regions (SER) designated by Washington State legislature under ESSB 5121 for the Long-Term Air Transportation Study (LATS). Identifies four SERs: Puget Sound (King, Snohomish, Pierce, Kitsap Counties), Southwest Washington (Clark, Cowlitz Counties), Spokane (Spokane County), and Tri-Cities (Benton, Franklin Counties). Details 28 public-use airports in the Puget Sound SER including Sea-Tac International, Boeing Field/King County International, Paine Field/Snohomish County, Renton Municipal, Auburn Municipal, Tacoma Narrows, Bremerton National, and multiple seaplane bases. Classifies airports by WSDOT service level (Commercial Service, Regional Service, Community Service, Rural Essential, Seaplane Base) and NPIAS designation (Primary, Reliever, GA, None-NPIAS).

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