Sims rejects plan to bring Southwest and Alaska airlines to Boeing Field

King County Executive Ron Sims has nixed proposals by Southwest and Alaska airlines to begin service at Boeing Field, citing noise and traffic impacts, the need for taxpayer money and possible extended litigation.

"I'm am forced to reject both the Alaska and Southwest proposal," Sims said at a news conference this morning.

Both airlines have submitted competing proposals to the county to begin commercial air service at Boeing Field, which King County owns and operates. Southwest first submitted a formal proposal in July to build a $130 million terminal and start with 60 daily flights, eventually growing to 85. In late September, Alaska Airlines filed a proposal in late September with plans to build a $150 million terminal.

Kurt Triplett, Sim's chief of staff, has previously said it would be impossible to accommodate both proposals at Boeing Field.

Combined, the airlines proposed to build 16 gates and 128 daily flights with the possibility of expanding to a total of 185. The county had earlier said its maximum capacity is 13 gates and 130 flights a day.

Sims, who is running for re-election, was initially enthusiastic about Southwest's proposal, but has softened his stance in the last few weeks.

At a recent Metropolitan King County Council meeting, Triplett emphasized that the executive had not made any decision, and he wouldn't unless the noise and traffic issues could be addressed.

The airlines were eyeing the same piece of land next to the current terminal at Boeing Field, which is officially known as King County International Airport. The busy airport serves a mix of private, cargo and corporate planes, as well as providing private hangars.

Southwest Airlines and King County had been discussing the possibility of a move to Boeing Field for more than a year, with the airline complaining that the costs at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport are out of control and significantly higher than at all of the other airports it uses.

Sea-Tac is in the midst of a $4.2 billion expansion that includes building a third runway and enlarging the terminal. Construction is funded by airline landing fees and rents. Even with the expansion, the airport expects to reach its capacity in 2021.

Alaska Airlines has said that it is adamantly opposed to Southwest's plan to move to Boeing Field, but that it would have been forced to begin flying there to stay competitive with Southwest.

Under Federal Aviation Administration rules, the county is required to review any proposal for commercial service.

The county executive's office had earlier said it would not decide whether to forward a proposed lease agreement to the King County Council until the end of the year.

The Port of Seattle, which runs Sea-Tac airport, does not want any airline to leave.

"Moving airlines to Boeing Field doesn't maintain a level competitive playing field. It does just the opposite," Terri-Ann Betancourt, spokeswoman for Sea-Tac, said last week.