Times/News

Reaction to Southwest Airlines' announcement that it plans to move flights from Sea-Tac International Airport to Boeing Field varied widely among three Highline community leaders last week.

SeaTac Mayor Frank Hansen, whose city contains the airport, labeled Southwest's proposal a "cockamamie idea" and said the airline should "live up to the obligations" it agreed to in supporting Sea-Tac's expansion.

Normandy Park's Larry Corvari, who heads the anti-Sea-Tac expansion Regional Commission on Airport Affairs (RCAA), declared the Port of Seattle, Sea-Tac airport operators, brought the potential relocation on themselves by building an expensive third runway and other expansion projects.

Tukwila community activist Georgina Kerr, who dreads 80 Boeing Field flights or more flying over her Duwamish neighborhood, likens Southwest to a big gorilla moving into her living room.

"All you get is shaggy hair on the carpet," Kerr noted.

Hansen pointed to Southwest's previous acceptance of Sea-Tac's remodeling plans.

"Now, they indicate, they want to walk away from it," he added. "That's not fair to the others who signed on."

Hansen conceded that Southwest's business plan is to hold down costs by using alternative airports.

"I wish Southwest well. They provide a service to people but they still have to have principles on their business ethics," Hansen said.

Hansen said he doesn't worry about Alaska Airlines moving out since it uses Sea-Tac as a hub for its connecting flights.

"Alaska is the main airline here and Sea-Tac is Washington state's airport," he added.

Alaska and Horizon Air, which are headquartered in the city of SeaTac, operate about 45 per cent of the flights out of Sea-Tac. Horizon is owned by Alaska Air Group.

Joe Sprague, Alaska Air Group vice president, told the Times/News his company is "strongly opposed to the concept of any major airline moving from Sea-Tac."

Sprague characterized the move as "bad public policy" after so much has been invested in the airport's expansion.

However, if Southwest is allowed to move to lower-cost Boeing Field, Alaska would want to establish a mix of Alaska and Horizon flights there too, Sprague added.

Hansen said he will "not lose a lot of sleep" over Southwest Airlines leaving Sea-Tac.

Having lived in the area since the airport opened in 1949, Hansen, a retired airline pilot, said he has seen a lot of airline companies come and go from Sea-Tac.

Port critic Corvari said he predicted Sea-Tac expansion costs would skyrocket to the point where airlines would threaten to leave.

"The Port of Seattle is in serious trouble," Corvari charged. "They should take stock of what their customers want."

If Port officials lower costs to airlines, then expansion will be cut back, according to Corvari.

The RCAA solution is "a new airport not in the middle of a residential neighborhood," he added.

An interim step would be to divert some commercial flights to Paine Field at Everett, according to Corvari.

"Businesses congregate around airports," he observed. "If Snohomish County wants more business, they have to let commercial flights into Paine Field.

Corvari observed that for residents north of the Evergreen Point floating bridge, it is quicker to drive to Everett than Sea-Tac.

Mayor Hansen said he has been suggesting for 15 years that commercial airlines be allowed at Paine Field.

Tukwila resident Kerr isn't concerned about Sea-Tac or Paine Field. Her worry is the noise, air pollution and clogged neighborhood streets if Southwest and other airlines move to Boeing Field.

Southwest is making "a hefty profit," according to Kerr.

"They are not experiencing the pain and misery of the other airlines. It is unmitigated greed.

"They are coming to our town and we have to pay for the airport a few miles away."

Southwest officials said last week they would build a $130 million terminal and parking garage at Boeing Field. After 50 years, they would donate the terminal to King County, according to the Southwest proposal.

The additional overhead flights would add to neighborhood noise from Sound Transit's light-rail, two freeways and a firing range already in her community, according to Kerr.

"(Southwest) thinks we're just a poor community. They can do anything they want and we can't do anything.

"But this is a unique and unusual community that sticks together," Kerr noted.

Kerr and her Duwamish neighbors campaigned to save a scruffy hill destined to be dynamited for industrial development. Through the help of the Cascade Land Conservancy, Indian tribes and others, the site has been designated as a park known as Grandmother's Hill.

Kerr also sees Southwest's proposed move as an effort to undercut Alaska Airlines.

"They want to destroy Alaska. Alaska is a home-grown airline. Why would we want to help Southwest?" she asked.

In a statement, Port commission president Bob Edwards said the Port has "serious reservations about a number of issues, including impacts on the flying public, ground transportation around Boeing Field and the transfer of noise to new neighborhoods.

"Additionally the move would only shift jobs from South King County, not create new ones."