United pulls out of Seattle-area's Paine Field in Pacific Northwest consolidation
Editor's Note
United Airlines' route map is losing one of its pins.
The Chicago-based carrier will pull out of Paine Field Airport (PAE) in Everett, Washington, on Oct. 5, when the final flight departs to United's Denver hub. The move was first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed directly by the airline.
United's Denver flight was the carrier's only remaining route to the Seattle-area airport. In February 2020, UA announced that it would end service to PAE from its San Francisco hub, the only other route it flew to the airport.
All United flights to PAE were operated by the airline's regional partner Skywest aboard Embraer 175 jets.
In confirming the move to TPG, the airline shared that it's making the decision due to "demand trends," with the full statement below.
United has continued to evaluate and adapt its network and based on demand trends, the airline will suspend service from Denver (DEN) to Everett, Washington (PAE), effective Oct. 5, 2021. United will continue to serve the region with non-stop service to Seattle (SEA) from Denver, New York/Newark, Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco.
Going forward, United flyers headed to the region will need to fly through the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
As for Paine Field, this move is bad news for the local regional airport. Paine Field first reopened to commercial operations in March 2019 and was intended to serve as an alternative for people living north of downtown Seattle. Prior to that, the Paine Field had been closed to commercial traffic for decades.
Related: Why the new Paine Field Airport is a passenger's dream
Until March 2019, residents in Snohomish County and the surrounding areas previously had to drive nearly 40 miles south to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to fly out of the region.
Of the major U.S. airlines, only Alaska and United set up shop in Paine Field. With the latter carrier discontinuing flights, Alaska will have a monopoly on the airport.
In fact, Alaska, contrary to United's latest move, recently boosted options on its service to Paine Field. The carrier announced a new seasonal route there, to Tucson, Arizona (TUS), that'll take off on Nov. 19. Alaska also shared that it'll resume its full schedule of 18 daily nonstops from Paine Field by spring 2022, if not earlier.
"The airport in Everett, north of Seattle, remains very popular with our guests," Alaska's latest press release said, underscoring the airline's confidence in Paine Field.
Alaska Airlines, being the hometown carrier based in Seattle, likely has an easier time marketing its service to the local community than United or other entrants. Of course, it's possible that another airline could fill United's gap. Until then, however, Denver will remain unserved from Paine Field.
Paine Field first started commercial service in 1939 before being converted to military use during World War II. Efforts to return the airport to commercial service started in earnest during the 1980s. Not until 2015 with a new public-private partnership did those efforts begin to become a reality.
Propeller, the airport's developer, shared the following statement about United's move with TPG,
Carriers are making post pandemic adjustments to their schedules and markets, so this is not surprising news. Paine Field continues to enjoy strong passenger demand, our flights are departing full, and our hometown carrier Alaska Airlines remains committed. We are excited about Alaska's new routes to Boise and Tucson starting later this year. We've had conversations with other carriers interested in starting service and remain confident that we will be back at full steam later this year.
Production shift: Boeing to move all 787 'Dreamliner' production from Everett to South Carolina
Other than Alaska Airlines planes, you'll find plenty of Boeing wide-body jets around Paine Field. That's because Boeing builds most of its twin-aisle jets there, and PAE is where they take off from when they first take flight.
Until earlier this year, that even included Boeing's 787 Dreamliners — though production of that model has now been shifted entirely to the company's assembly line near Charleston, South Carolina.
Editor's note: This post has been corrected to show that all of Boeing's 787 production has been moved to South Carolina. The airport operator also shared a statement with TPG.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees