King County Rejects Southwest's Plan

County Executive Cuts Off Study of
Proposal for Expanded Passenger
Service Out Of Boeing Field

Ron Sims, King County Executive, announced at a press conference on Tuesday morning, 11 October, that he decided to reject the proposal from Southwest Airlines (SWA) to establish scheduled passenger service at King County International Airport (Boeing Field), & to build a new $130 million passenger terminal at the Airport. Also rejected was a sketchy suggestion from Alaska Airlines that it would like to move some operations to BFI, as well.

The Regional Commission on Airport Affairs has released the following comment:

"Mr Sims’ decision is not only disappointing, but it is quite premature. Southwest asked for a full study of its proposal. The King County Airport’s Round Table asked for a full study. So did RCAA. What was done, instead, was to come up with a staff guesstimate of the cost of doing an environmental impact statement covering not only the SWA project but the competing proposal from Alaska Airlines. The cost, $500,000, was deemed to be a burden that the County could not bear. SWA’s proposal deserved a full, fair & complete study on its own merits. And SWA was not even asked if it would pay for the EIS … a drop in the bucket, compared to its written commitment to pay $130 million for a terminal.

"In our view, the SWA proposal was real, sincere, & well within that airline’s financial capability: they have the money in the bank. Alaska’s proposal seems to have been put forward as a deal breaker. To the best of our knowledge, Alaska does not have the fiscal ability to build a terminal with its own money, to mention just one weakness.

"Mr Sims seemed to suggest that the two proposals put together are more than BFI can accommodate or mitigate. We’re not so sure. A careful review of those aspects, with full involvement by FAA, should have been conducted before acting negatively. Does the County have a procedure for dealing with competing proposals for Airport use, other than rejecting both? Does the FAA have an established procedure, or guidelines …. Or advice? (It would be good if the regional FAA would come out of its shell of silence, & become more “proactive” in matters like this.)

"For the time being, the result is that if any airline wants to set up shop at BFI, it will not be able to, so long as some other airline lodges a more-or-less competing proposal. What a very curious way of deciding an airport’s future."

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The text of Mr Sims’ statement may be viewed at

http://www.metrokc.gov/exec/news/2005/1011airport.htm

A news release from King County Councilmember Dwight Pelz and Council chairman Larry Phillips, claiming “Victory for Seattle Neighborhoods” is posted at

http://www.metrokc.gov/mkcc/2005/1005DP_LP_SWA_KCIA.htm

Southwest Airlines’ comment, in the form of a news release, may be viewed at their media-relations website

http://www.swamedia.com/swamedia/fs_swamedia_news.html