Snohomish County should support Paine Field passenger air service

HORIZON AIR'S announcement Thursday of its interest in starting passenger service from Paine Field adds to the flight dynamics in Snohomish County.

Another regional airline, Allegiant, is anxious for takeoff, so the resistance of Snohomish County officials, however politic, will ultimately be futile.

Snohomish County grew into the need for passenger-air service close to customers who want to be freed from the drive south to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. In July, a study commissioned by the city of Everett found an eager market in the county's population and employment bases.

Horizon is considering four to six flights a day to Portland and Spokane, and Allegiant is looking at two flights per week to Las Vegas. Both schedules would represent a tiny fraction of the general aviation and aviation-related business flights from Paine Field.

An obstinate County Council could refuse to budget the roughly $500,000 needed to erect modular structures to house the federal Transportation Security Administration's screening and security areas. TSA provides its own staff and equipment and pays for law enforcement. Paine Field already has appropriate fire and police services in place, and initially adequate terminal space.

County officials who stall will play a risky game. The needed money already exists in an airport enterprise fund, which represents money earned on site that cannot be spent elsewhere.

The real hazard is jeopardizing Federal Aviation Administration dollars that come to the airport. In 2008, an estimated $8 million was spent on a fire station and 1,000 feet of new taxiway. Another $8 million expected in 2009 would go for taxiway repairs the length of the main runway, which Boeing's commercial activities depend upon.

Paine Field is ready for passenger service. County energy ought to be invested in outcomes, not protests.