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The move was approved by the airport's two airlines, United and Alaska, and the FAA. Before the pandemic, the airport had 24 daily flights; that plummeted to five after airlines cut huge swathes of their networks after the pandemic hit in March.
Related reading: Why the New Paine Field Airport Is a Passenger’s Dream
Paine Field, north of downtown Seattle, opened for passenger service on March 4, 2019. It was designed to be an alternative for residents of Snohomish County and surrounding areas who don't want to make the 40-mile drive south to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). The airport has been lauded for a departures area that feels like you're in a business-class lounge, rather than a generic cramped area with limited seating.
A center atrium separates two gate areas with leather lounge chairs, couches, and traditional bar seating, plus restaurant-style seating. Almost every single seat in the departures area has one or more power outlets.
Between March 4, 2019, and now, more than 8,560 flights have departed to 11 nonstop destinations and more than 1 million passengers have been served.
Related reading: Airline coronavirus change and cancellation policies: A complete list of major carriers
