ColoradoJune2008

Fort Collins Loveland Airport has one airline providing commercial flights. That airline is Allegiant Air.

Their terminal is fairly small. Inside, it has the basics of an airport:
The baggage claim is just to the right of the terminal-- outside.

This looks like it could appear at Paine Field easily. However, there's another angle to consider. Check out what surrounds the airport for at least 3 miles:

Not very similar to the issues in Mukilteo:



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My recent trip to Colorado was interesting to see what perspective Allegiant Air likely has. They have a small lo-fi terminal, not many amenities, in an airport that is about an hour and a half from Denver, providing mostly vacation package trips to Vegas.
Fort Collins Loveland Airport had quite a few other uses-- aerospace industry type uses. It certainly didn't look like the ability to get to the Bellagio Hotel quickly was bringing business in. I don't think economic development could at all be considered a result of the addition of commercial service.
If Snohomish County's goal is to get our residents to Circus Circus as fast as we can... Well, the solution is clear.
If we want to expand high quality aerospace jobs, continue to improve our quality of life and have choices for getting to the airport quickly-- that doesn't include putting the airport in your backyard. It's about transportation choices on the ground. The Allegiant Air model won't be a good one for Snohomish County.