Misplaced Pages

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146-403: Boeing Field was Seattle's main passenger airport from its construction in 1928 until Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) began operations in the late 1940s, with the exception of its use for military purposes during World War II . The Boeing Company continues to use the field for testing and delivery of its airplanes, and it is still a regional cargo hub. It is used by Air Force One when

292-444: A groundbreaking ceremony on January 2, 1943. The project was originally estimated to cost $ 1.7 million (equivalent to $ 23.4 million in 2023 dollars), but the sandy soil conditions drove the final construction price to over $ 4.2 million (equivalent to $ 57.8 million in 2023 dollars). The airport's plateau was formed through 6.5 million cubic yards (5,000,000 m ) of excavated earth. A proposal to rename

438-401: A polar route to reach Copenhagen . A parallel second runway was completed 800 feet (240 m) west of the main runway in 1970. The Port embarked on a major expansion plan, designed by The Richardson Associates and lasting from 1967 to 1973, adding a second runway, a parking garage, two satellite terminals and other improvements. In 1973, $ 28 million new terminal was built over and around

584-415: A primary commercial service airport. Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 34,597 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008, 35,863 in 2009 and 33,656 in 2010. The airport covers 634 acres (257 ha) at an elevation of 21 feet (6 m). It has two asphalt runways : 14R/32L is 10,007 by 200 feet (3,050 x 61 m) and 14L/32R is 3,709 by 100 feet (1,131 x 30 m). In

730-465: A 1994 study concluded there were no feasible sites for an additional airport. The Port of Seattle approved a plan for the new runway in 1996, prompting a lawsuit from opponents. The Port secured the necessary permits by agreeing to noise reduction programs and environmental protections. Runway opponents appealed these permits, but dropped their challenges in 2004. The third runway, measuring 8,500 feet (2,600 m) long, opened on November 20, 2008, with

876-536: A 900-foot (270 m)-long high bridge that will take passengers from the South Satellite, up 85 feet (26 m) above the existing taxiway and over the top of Concourse A. The project was initially expected to be completed by 2021 at a cost of $ 766 million, though revised to $ 968 million in late 2018. The old customs and immigration facility was located in the basement of the South Satellite, and operated well over its design capacity. Additionally,

1022-655: A VIP aircraft by the Mexican Air Force for 23 years under registration TP-03. TP-03 would be broken up in 2006. The first 737-100, NASA 515, is on static display in the Museum of Flight in Seattle and is the last surviving example of the type. The 737-200 was a 737-100 with an extended fuselage, launched by an order from United Airlines in 1965 and entered service with the launch customer in April 1968. Its unit cost

1168-829: A commuter airline, operated Swearingen Metro propjets in 1979 nonstop to its hub in Portland, Oregon . Helijet , a helicopter airline based at Vancouver International Airport in British Columbia , operated scheduled Sikorsky S-76 helicopter flights to the Victoria Harbour Heliport in British Columbia with direct one stop service to Helijet's Vancouver Harbour Heliport located in the downtown Vancouver, B.C. area. JSX began service between Boeing Field and Oakland International Airport on July 1, 2019 using Embraer 135 regional jets. As

1314-419: A construction cost of $ 1.1 billion. Parallel to the existing two, the new runway is 2,500 ft (760 m) west of runway 34R, allowing landings on both in times of low visibility. The older runways are 800 ft (240 m) apart, too close to allow use of both in low visibility. The third runway project included 13 million cubic yards (9,900,000 m ) of fill dirt and several retaining walls,

1460-459: A control center staffed by Port of Seattle Airport Operations personnel. A separate control center monitors the baggage handling system at Sea-Tac, which includes 10 miles (16 km) of conveyor belts and handled 14.5 million pieces in 2022. Sea-Tac is the first major airport in the U.S. to use filters to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from its firefighting foam , which had sickened firefighters and workers. The airport site

1606-675: A daily basis to Portland, OR as well as a daily nonstop DC-6 flight to San Francisco named "The California" which continued on to Los Angeles on a one stop basis with the airline also operating daily direct service from the airport to smaller cities in Washington state, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nebraska and Iowa. In 1950, Pan American World Airways ( Pan Am ) was operating weekly nonstop Boeing 377 Stratocruiser service from Boeing Field nonstop to Honolulu with this flight continuing on to Manila where connections were offered to Pan Am Douglas DC-4 flights to Hong Kong and Singapore . Pan Am

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1752-464: A design team, which cooperated with CFM International to select, modify and deploy a new engine and nacelle that would make the 737-300 into a viable aircraft. They chose the CFM56-3B-1 high-bypass turbofan engine to power the aircraft, which yielded significant gains in fuel economy and a reduction in noise, but also posed an engineering challenge, given the low ground clearance of the 737 and

1898-625: A federal judge issued a court order allowing deportation flights to resume from Boeing Field. For each flight, airport officials allow community members to gather in an observation room and watch the aircraft using the airport's video system. Each month, King County updates its website with available information about past deportation flights. [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Seattle%E2%80%93Tacoma International Airport Seattle–Tacoma International Airport ( IATA : SEA , ICAO : KSEA , FAA LID : SEA )

2044-529: A gravel deflector on the nose gear and a vortex dissipator extending from the front of the engine. Alaska Airlines used the gravel kit for some of its combi aircraft rural operations in Alaska until retiring its -200 fleet in 2007. Air Inuit , Nolinor Aviation and Chrono Aviation still use the gravel kit in Northern Canada. Canadian North also operated a gravel-kitted 737-200 Combi, but this

2190-445: A major international hub at SEA Airport. That growth has strained the airport's facilities and led the port to invest more than $ 2 billion into several expansion and renovation projects. The airport has six outbound baggage handling systems with limited to no cross-connectivity. The system now in place is aging and reaching its maximum capacity. A $ 320.4 million project will create one unified, high-speed baggage system under

2336-665: A month later with four gate positions to prepare for regular jetliner service; the concourse's wing was 600 feet (180 m) long and 30 feet (9.1 m) wide. Jetliner service began in October with Pan Am's Boeing 707 to Honolulu . The 688-foot-long (210 m) South Concourse (now Concourse A) opened in May 1961 alongside an expanded parking lot with capacity for 2,000 vehicles. The 800-foot (240 m) long Concourse B opened in December 1964. It added eight gate positions, bringing

2482-423: A need for a new aircraft to supplement the 727 on short and thin routes. Preliminary design work began on May 11, 1964, based on research that indicated a market for a fifty to sixty passenger airliner flying routes of 50 to 1,000 miles (100 to 1,600 km). The initial concept featured podded engines on the aft fuselage, a T-tail as with the 727, and five-abreast seating. Engineer Joe Sutter relocated

2628-459: A new Boeing aircraft. Lufthansa was the only significant customer to purchase the 737-100 and only 30 aircraft were produced. The -200 was rolled out on June 29, 1967, and had its maiden flight on August 8, 1967. It was then certified by the FAA on December 21, 1967. The inaugural flight for United Airlines took place on April 28, 1968, from Chicago to Grand Rapids, Michigan . The lengthened -200

2774-459: A new hub for Delta Air Lines. A new international arrivals facility opened in 2022 as part of the program. In 2023, Sea–Tac served 50,887,260 passengers, 2 percent below the all-time record set in 2019. A shared public airport was proposed by the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma in the late 1920s, but deferred plans after the legality of public ports operating such facilities was rejected by

2920-509: A range similar to the Airbus A319LR . The 737-800 was a stretched version of the 737-700 launched on September 5, 1994. The -800 seats 162 passengers in a two-class or 189 passengers in a high-density, one-class layout. Launch customer Hapag-Lloyd Flug (now TUIfly ) received the first one in April 1998. The -800 replaced directly the -400 and aging 727-200 of US airlines. It filled also the gap left by Boeing's decision to discontinue

3066-481: A result of the COVID-19 pandemic , JSX announced in April 2020 that it would indefinitely cease its flights from Boeing Field. The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit against King County in 2020 to allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation flights to leave from Boeing Field. The county had previously halted the practice, forcing the flights to be redirected to Yakima Air Terminal . In March 2023,

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3212-416: A retrofit was provided for active aircraft. Longer nacelle/wing fairings were introduced, and the airflow over the flaps and slats was improved. The production line also introduced an improvement to the flap system, allowing increased use during takeoff and landing. All these changes gave the aircraft a boost to payload and range, and improved short-field performance. Both the first and last 737-100s became

3358-488: A single-class layout with slimline seats requiring an extra pair of exit doors . The MAX 200 would be 20% more cost-efficient per seat, including 5% lower operating costs than the MAX 8 and would be the most efficient narrow-body on the market when entering service. In mid-November 2018, the first MAX 200 of the 135 ordered by Ryanair rolled out, in a 197-seat configuration. It was first flown from Renton on January 13, 2019, and

3504-502: A strengthened wing spar . The -400s first flight was on February 19, 1988, and, after a seven-month/500-hour flight-testing run, entered service with Piedmont Airlines that October. The last two -400s, i.e. the last 737 Classics series, were delivered to CSA Czech Airlines on February 28, 2000. The 737-400 was replaced by the 737-800 of the Next Generation series. The 737-400SF was a 737-400 converted to freighter, though it

3650-744: A test bed for the implementation of the technology in the US, which was expected to begin in 2009. The technology is part of a strategy to reduce the presence of wildlife on the airfield. The Seattle office of the National Weather Service operates a weather station at the airport, with a temperature gauge between the center and eastern runways. The airport has served as Seattle's official weather recording location since 1945. As of April 2023 , Sea-Tac has over 23,000 total workers, including 400 to 500 customs agents and 850 TSA security officers. The airport has 3,800 cameras that are monitored from

3796-482: A transpacific hub. Since then, Delta has added numerous international flights and dozens of domestic flights to feed those services. Delta's increased presence in Seattle has been seen by some industry analysts as a response to United Airlines ' transpacific hub at San Francisco , as well as Delta's disenchantment with its former Tokyo–Narita hub. In late 2021, shortly after Alaska Airlines joined American Airlines in

3942-428: A two class and 189 in a high-density, one class layout. The launch customer Alaska Airlines received the delivery on May 15, 2001. The 737-900ER (Extended Range) is the newest and largest variant of the 737NG generation. An additional pair of exit doors and a flat rear pressure bulkhead increased its seating capacity to 180 passengers in a two-class and up to 220 passengers in a one-class configuration. The -900ER

4088-442: Is 233 ft (71 m) above ground level; the tower's overall height including antennas is 269 ft (82 m). The cab has 850 sq ft (79 m ) of space and was designed to support operation by ten controllers , with possible future expansion up to 15. The site and construction method of the tower were designed to maximize the visibility and efficacy of radar systems. The airport's original control tower, built in

4234-475: Is also served both by the King County Metro bus system and Sound Transit regional express buses. Sound Transit buses offer service to West Seattle , White Center , Burien , Renton , Newcastle and Bellevue through Route 560. In contrast, Route 574 offers service to Lakewood via Des Moines , Federal Way , and Tacoma . Tukwila Station , which is approximately 5 miles east of the airport,

4380-543: Is owned by the Port of Seattle . The entire airport covers an area of 2,500 acres (1,000 hectares) and has three parallel runways. It is the primary hub for Alaska Airlines , whose headquarters are near the airport. The airport is also a hub and international gateway for Delta Air Lines , which has expanded at the airport since 2011. As of 2022 , 31 airlines operate at Sea–Tac, serving 91 domestic and 28 international destinations in North America, Oceania, Europe,

4526-779: Is served by Sounder commuter rail and Amtrak Cascades regional inter-city rail with service north to Vancouver , Canada, and service south to Portland and Eugene in Oregon. This station can be reached in about 30 minutes via the Central Link light rail or the RapidRide A Line bus service and transferring at Tukwila International Boulevard station to the RapidRide F Line bus service. The airport serves door-to-door shuttle services (Shuttle Express and Speedi Shuttle) and several scheduled airporter bus services. Airporters include Bellair Charters to Yakima and Bellingham , and

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4672-923: Is the name given to the 737-300/400/500 series after the introduction of the -600/700/800/900 series of the Boeing 737 family. Produced from 1984 to 2000, a total of 1,988 Classic series were delivered. Close to the next major upgrade of single aisle aircraft at Airbus and Boeing, the price of jet fuel reached a peak in 2008, when airlines devoted 40% of the retail price of an air ticket to pay for fuel, versus 15% in 2000. Consequently, in that year carriers retired Boeing 737 Classic aircraft to reduce fuel consumption; replacements consisted of more efficient 737 Next Generation or A320 family aircraft. On June 4, 2008, United Airlines announced it would retire all 94 of its Classic 737 aircraft (64 737-300 and 30 737-500 aircraft), replacing them with A320 family jets taken from its Ted subsidiary, which has been shut down. This intensified

4818-484: Is the primary international airport serving Seattle and its metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Washington . It is in the city of SeaTac , which was named after the airport's nickname Sea–Tac , approximately 14 miles (23 km) south of Downtown Seattle and 18 miles (29 km) north-northeast of Downtown Tacoma . The airport is the busiest in the Pacific Northwest region of North America and

4964-526: The 737 MAX -7/8/9/10 variants, powered by improved CFM LEAP -1B high-bypass turbofans and accommodating 138 to 204 people, entered service in 2017. Boeing Business Jet versions have been produced since the 737NG, as well as military models. As of October 2024 , 16,705 Boeing 737s have been ordered and 11,898 delivered. Initially, its main competitor was the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 , followed by its MD-80 / MD-90 derivatives. In 2013,

5110-486: The Air Transport Association maintenance and engineering conference by chief project engineer Jack Steiner, where its elaborate high-lift devices raised concerns about maintenance costs and dispatch reliability. The original 737 continued to be developed into thirteen passenger, cargo, corporate and military variants. These were later divided into what has become known as the four generations of

5256-662: The Airbus A318 . The 737-700, the first variant of the Next-Generation, was launched in November 1993 with an order of 63 aircraft. The -700 seats 126 passengers in a two-class or 149 passengers in a one-class layout. The launch customer Southwest Airlines took the first delivery in December 1997. The 737-700 replaced the 737-300 and competes with the Airbus A319 . The 737-700C is a convertible version where

5402-471: The BAC One-Eleven (BAC-111), Douglas DC-9 , and Fokker F28 were already into flight certification. To expedite development, Boeing used 60% of the structure and systems of the existing 727, particularly the fuselage, which differs in length only. This 148-inch (3.76 m) wide fuselage cross-section permitted six-abreast seating compared to the rivals' five-abreast. The 727's fuselage was derived from

5548-600: The CFM LEAP -1B engine, with American Airlines intending to order 100 of these aircraft. On August 30, 2011, Boeing confirmed the launch of the 737 new engine variant, to be called the Boeing 737 MAX . It was based on earlier 737 designs with more efficient LEAP-1B power plants, aerodynamic improvements (most notably split-tip winglets ), and airframe modifications. It competes with the Airbus A320neo family that

5694-512: The CFM56 . The 737 went on to become the highest-selling commercial aircraft in terms of orders until surpassed by the competing Airbus A320 family in October 2019, but maintains the record in total deliveries. The fuselage is manufactured in Wichita, Kansas , by Boeing spin-off company Spirit AeroSystems , before being moved by rail to Renton. The Renton factory has three assembly lines for

5840-572: The Oneworld alliance, American announced that they would increase their international presence in Seattle. However, as of 2023, American had abandoned plans for long-haul flights to Asia from Seattle (including its proposed service to Bangalore, India ) and ended service to London-Heathrow, their only intercontinental service from Seattle. The North Satellite Terminal only received limited upgrades since it opened in 1973, and needed modernization. The Port of Seattle initially looked at simply updating

5986-529: The President of the United States visits the Seattle area. The August 1946 OAG lists 24 United Airlines weekday departures, 10 weekly flights on Northwest Airlines and several Pan Am Douglas DC-3s a week to Juneau via Annette Island Airport which was the airfield serving Ketchikan at the time. Northwest moved to SEA in 1947, United moved in 1949, and Pan Am in 1953. West Coast Airlines

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6132-596: The Puget Sound region will grow by another one million people by 2035, the Port of Seattle began developing the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) in 2018 to meet passenger and cargo demands. The SAMP recommends more than 30 projects to improve efficiency and airport access, including a new terminal with 19 gates and an automated people mover through three separate stations. Near-term projects that are scheduled to be completed in

6278-669: The SeaTac/Airport station with frequent service to downtown Seattle and the University of Washington . The station opened on December 19, 2009, and is connected to the airport terminal via a pedestrian bridge to the airport parking garage. Another pedestrian bridge over International Boulevard is used to access the city of SeaTac, nearby airport hotels, and King County Metro buses including RapidRide A Line . A 1.6-mile light rail extension south to Angle Lake station at South 200th Street opened on September 24, 2016. The airport

6424-667: The Seattle World's Fair the following year, including a runway extension over South 188th Street, which was placed in an automobile tunnel that opened in July 1961. During construction of the runway extension in February 1961, the fossilized skeleton of a Megalonyx jeffersonii giant sloth was discovered and excavated for display at the Burke Museum in Seattle. The two-story North Concourse (later named Concourse D) opened

6570-669: The U.S. Air Force . Some were modified into CT-43s, which are used to transport passengers, and one was modified as the NT-43A Radar Test Bed. The first was delivered on July 31, 1973, and the last on July 19, 1974. The Indonesian Air Force ordered three modified 737-200s, designated Boeing 737-2X9 Surveiller . They were used as Maritime reconnaissance (MPA)/transport aircraft, fitted with SLAMMAR (Side-looking Multi-mission Airborne Radar). The aircraft were delivered between May 1982 and October 1983. After 40 years, in March 2008,

6716-614: The state attorney general in a published opinion. The state legislature authorized municipal corporations such as public ports to establish aviation facilities in 1941. The Port of Seattle accepted a $ 1 million grant (equivalent to $ 14.7 million in 2023 dollars) from the Civil Aeronautics Administration in March 1942 to construct a new airport to serve the Seattle area after the U.S. military took control of Boeing Field during World War II . A site on U.S. Route 99 near Bow Lake south of Seattle

6862-410: The -500. The Boeing 737 Next Generation , abbreviated as 737 Next Gen or 737NG , is the name given to the main models 737-600/700/800/900 series and the extended range -700ER/900ER variants of the Boeing 737 family. It has been produced since 1996 and introduced in 1997, with a total order of 7,097 aircraft, of which 7,031 have been delivered as of May 2019 . The primary goal was to re-engine

7008-555: The 1949 structure; the new terminal quadrupled the area for public use. On July 1, 1973, the airport opened two new satellite terminals, along with an underground train system to connect them to the Main Terminal. These fully automatic shuttle trains were among the first of their kind in the United States. Also unprecedented in any U.S. airport: as part of the expansion the Port commissioned $ 300,000 worth of artworks; these were

7154-566: The 1950s, is now part of the passenger terminal and used as a ramp control tower after being repaired from damage caused by the 2001 Nisqually earthquake . A recurring problem at the airport is the misidentification of the westernmost taxiway, Taxiway Tango, as a runway. A large "X" has been placed on the north end of the taxiway, but many aircraft have landed on the taxiway. The FAA issued an alert notice dated from August 27, 2009, to September 24, 2009, urging airplanes about taking precautions such as REILs and other visual cues while landing from

7300-420: The 2010s and 2020s. The busiest day for outbound passengers was July 24, 2023, with 73,651 passengers; more than 198,000 passengers (departing, arriving, and connecting) passed through the airport that day. The previous record for outbound passengers was set on August 16, 2019, at 72,154. The growth has been partly fueled by the nationwide expansion of Seattle-based Alaska Airlines and by Delta Air Lines setting up

7446-557: The 2020s include restroom renovations, security checkpoint expansion, and roadway realignment. A four-story addition to the existing structure of Concourse C began in 2023 and is scheduled to be completed in 2027 at a cost of $ 399 million; it includes a "central gathering place" under a large wooden ceiling. Further projects include an automated parking garage guidance system, a gateway project in cooperation with Alaska Airlines, Concourse A building expansion for lounges, improved curbside safety and accessibility, continued refurbishment of

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7592-467: The 707. The proposed wing airfoil sections were based on those of the 707 and 727, but somewhat thicker; altering these sections near the nacelles achieved a substantial drag reduction at high Mach numbers. The engine chosen was the Pratt & Whitney JT8D -1 low-bypass ratio turbofan engine, delivering 14,500 pounds-force (64  kN ) of thrust. The concept design was presented in October 1964 at

7738-599: The 737 MAX; a fourth is planned to open at the Everett factory in 2024. The Boeing 737 Original is the name given to the -100/200 and -200 Advanced series of the Boeing 737 family. The initial model was the 737-100, the smallest variant of the 737 aircraft family, which was launched in February 1965 and entered service with Lufthansa in February 1968. In 1968, its unit cost was US$ 3.7M (1968), $ 32.4M today. A total of 30 737-100s were ordered: 22 by Lufthansa, 5 by Malaysia–Singapore Airlines (MSA) and 2 by Avianca with

7884-421: The 737 project would not be canceled. Consultation with Lufthansa over the previous winter had resulted in the seating capacity being increased to 100. On April 5, 1965, Boeing announced an order by United Airlines for 40 737s. United wanted a slightly larger capacity than the 737-100, so the fuselage was stretched 36 inches (91 cm) ahead of, and 40 inches (102 cm) behind the wing. The longer version

8030-532: The 737 with the high pressure ratio CFM56-7. By the early 1990s, as the MD-80 slowly withdrew from the competition following the introduction of the MD-90, it had become clear that the new A320 family was a serious threat to Boeing's market share. Airbus won previously loyal 737 customers, such as Lufthansa and United Airlines. In November 1993, to stay in the single aisle competition, Boeing's board of directors authorized

8176-432: The 737-100 for commercial flight on December 15, 1967. It was the first aircraft to have, as part of its initial certification, approval for Category II approaches , which refers to a precision instrument approach and landing with a decision height between 98 and 197 feet (30 and 60 m). Lufthansa received its first aircraft on December 28, 1967, and on February 10, 1968, became the first non-American airline to launch

8322-537: The 737-900 and competes with the Airbus A321neo . The 737 MAX 10 was proposed as a stretched MAX 9 in mid-2016, enabling seating for 230 in a single class or 189 in two-class layout, compared to 193 in two-class seating for the A321neo. The modest 66-inch (1.7 m) stretch of fuselage enables the MAX 10 to retain the existing wing and CFM Leap 1B engine from the MAX 9 with a trailing-link main landing gear as

8468-408: The Boeing 737 family: The launch decision for the $ 150 million (~$ 1.11 billion in 2023) development was made by the board on February 1, 1965. The sales pitch was big-jet comfort on short-haul routes. Lufthansa became the launch customer on February 19, 1965, with an order for 21 aircraft, worth $ 67 million (~$ 494 million in 2023) after the airline had been assured by Boeing that

8614-532: The CFM56 included the U.S. Air Force with its program to re-engine KC-135 tankers. The passenger capacity of the aircraft was increased to 149 by extending the fuselage around the wing by 9 feet 5 inches (2.87 m). The wing incorporated several changes for improved aerodynamics. The wingtip was extended 9 inches (23 cm), and the wingspan by 1 foot 9 inches (53 cm). The leading-edge slats and trailing-edge flaps were adjusted. The tailfin

8760-689: The Central Terminal, and a replacement of controls pertaining to the SEA Underground shuttles. The airport has 115 gates in four concourses and two satellite buildings. The two satellite terminal buildings, named the North and South Satellites, are connected to the four concourses in the main terminal by a three-line automated people mover system called the SEA Underground . The underground transit system moves passengers within

8906-461: The FAA cleared the MAX to return to service. Before the aircraft can fly again, repairs must be implemented and airlines' training programs must be approved. Passenger flights in the U.S. are expected to resume before the end of the year. Worldwide, the first airline to resume passenger service was Brazilian low-cost Gol , on December 9, 2020. The 737 MAX 7, a shortened variant of the MAX ;8,

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9052-535: The MD-80 and MD-90 aircraft, following Boeing's merger with McDonnell Douglas . The 737-800 is the most widely used narrowbody aircraft and competes primarily with the Airbus A320. The 737-900 was launched in 1997 and took its first flight on August 3, 2000. It retains the MTOW , fuel capacity, trading range for payload and also the exit configuration of the -800, limiting its seat capacity to approximately 177 in

9198-575: The Middle East, and Asia. Sea–Tac was developed in the 1940s to replace Boeing Field , which had been converted to military use during World War II . A site near Bow Lake was chosen in 1942 and construction began the following year with funding from the federal government, Port of Seattle, and the City of Tacoma . The first scheduled commercial flights from the airport began in September 1947 and

9344-407: The Next Generation program to mainly upgrade the 737 Classic series. In late 1993, after engineering trade studies and discussions with major customers, Boeing proceeded to launch a second derivative of the Boeing 737, the 737 Next Generation (NG) -600/700/800/900 series. It featured a redesigned wing with a wider wingspan and larger area, greater fuel capacity, longer range and higher MTOWs . It

9490-403: The Next Generation series. The 737-500 was offered as a modern and direct replacement of the 737-200. It was launched in 1987 by Southwest Airlines , with an order for 20 aircraft, and it flew for the first time on June 30, 1989. A single prototype flew 375 hours for the certification process, and on February 28, 1990, Southwest Airlines received the first delivery. The -500 incorporated

9636-578: The November 1983 elections, an advisory referendum in Tacoma on the airport's name endorsed the original name by a 4–1 margin and two incumbent Port commissioners were defeated by candidates in favor of restoring the Sea–Tac name. Helen Jackson, the widow of the late senator, expressed her desire that their family remain neutral in the debate. With a 3–2 vote of the Port Commission on February 28, 1984,

9782-606: The Port Commission voted on September 13, 1983, to change the airport's name to the Henry M. Jackson International Airport. Citizens of Tacoma were angered by the removal of their city's name despite their contribution to the airport's original construction budget, which had come with a promise to share the name. An additional complicating factor was the existence of another Jackson International Airport (now Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport ) in Jackson, Mississippi . During

9928-757: The Quick Shuttle to downtown Vancouver, Canada, through Quick Shuttle, with other pick-up stops at downtown Seattle, Bellingham International Airport , and drop-off stops just inside the Canadian–U.S. boundary and at the Vancouver International Airport . Taxis, limousines, and transportation network companies ( Lyft , Uber and Wingz ) are also available. Prior to 2019, the Port of Seattle contracted out taxi services to an independent company, but changed to direct management with drivers due to protests over high access fees. As of 2023 ,

10074-467: The Seattle area and operated all of its flights from Boeing Field, merged with Pacific Air Lines and Bonanza Air Lines to form Air West (later renamed Hughes Airwest following its acquisition by Howard Hughes in 1970) which continued serving Boeing Field until it moved its passenger service to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in 1971. Before the move to SEA, in January 1971 Hughes Airwest

10220-549: The Second Generation 737 Classic -300/400/500 variants were upgraded with more fuel-efficient CFM56-3 high-bypass turbofans and offered 110 to 168 seats. Introduced in 1997, the Third Generation 737 Next Generation (NG) -600/700/800/900 variants have updated CFM56-7 high-bypass turbofans, a larger wing and an upgraded glass cockpit , and seat 108 to 215 passengers. The latest, and Fourth Generation,

10366-597: The South Satellite is 780 feet (240 m) long and rises 87 feet (27 m) over a taxiway. The five security checkpoints at Sea–Tac are located in the main terminal and are managed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). All of the checkpoints offer Clear Secure prescreening, while TSA Precheck is available from two. The airport began using a virtual queuing program, called SEA Spot Saver, in 2021 to reduce wait times and control crowds at security lines. Wait times at

10512-564: The TSA checkpoints during peak departure periods averaged 20 minutes in 2019 and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a maximum of 90 minutes reached in June 2023. During particularly busy periods, the queues for security have backed up into the airport's main parking garage and caused several hours of delays for passengers. The three parallel runways run nearly north–south, west of

10658-476: The aft fuselage instead of as a T-tail. Many designs for the engine attachment strut were tested in the wind tunnel and the optimal shape for high speed was found to be one which was relatively thick, filling the narrow channels formed between the wing and the top of the nacelle, particularly on the outboard side. At the time, Boeing was far behind its competitors; the SE 210 Caravelle had been in service since 1955, and

10804-552: The aircraft to modern specifications, while also retaining commonality with previous 737 variants. In 1980, preliminary aircraft specifications of the variant, dubbed 737-300, were released at the Farnborough Airshow . This first major upgrade series was later renamed 737 Classic. It competed primarily with the MD-80, its later derivative the MD-90 , and the newcomer Airbus A320 family . Boeing engineer Mark Gregoire led

10950-429: The airport for Boeing president Philip G. Johnson shortly after his death in September 1944 was rejected by Port of Seattle commissioners due to the objections of Tacoma. The first ceremonial landing at Seattle–Tacoma Airport was made on October 31, 1944, by a United Air Lines DC-3 carrying local elected officials and civic leaders. The first commercial flights launched in May 1945 with Northwest Airlines , but use

11096-488: The airport had also risen dramatically. In 1992, the planning committee concluded that the best solution was to add a third runway to the airport and construct a supplemental two-runway airport in one of the neighboring counties. Members of the community opposed a third runway, as did the Highline School District and the cities of Des Moines , Burien , Federal Way , Tukwila , and Normandy Park , but

11242-472: The airport has 409 taxi drivers who are part of the Teamsters Local 117 labor union. A 23-acre (9.3 ha) consolidated rental car facility opened on May 17, 2012. The facility is at the northeastern portion of the airport at the intersection of South 160th Street and International Boulevard South . The facility has 5,400 parking spaces and can handle up to 14,000 transactions per day. After

11388-597: The airport in 1957 to serve areas west of the Mississippi River and mail bound for Asia; other government agencies, including the Weather Bureau and the Customs Service also established offices at Sea–Tac. On June 28, 1959, Japan Airlines became the first international carrier to operate at Sea–Tac when it began its service to Tokyo . Several projects were completed by 1961 to prepare for

11534-474: The airport is home for several fixed-base operators (FBOs) including Skyservice, Modern Aviation, and Signature Flight Support. Executive Flight Maintenance and Galvin Flying provides maintenance services. Airlift Northwest operates emergency medical services (EMS) and on-demand helicopter flights. The Boeing Company has facilities at the airport. Final preparations for delivery of Boeing 737 aircraft after

11680-473: The airport wear a mix of both Police and Fire uniforms, turnouts etc., which includes single Police, Fire/ARFF patch, and drive King County International Airport Police patrol cars. There are currently 17 patrol officers/sergeants and one chief assigned full-time to the airport. Officers assigned to the airport are also required to obtain a Washington State Fire Fighter One certification and an Emergency Medical Technician certification. In 1945, Northwest Airlines

11826-453: The airport. That will allow bags to be checked from any ticketing counter, to receive security screening faster, and to be routed to any gate in the airport. The extra efficiency and speed will allow the airport to handle more baggage in the future without expanding the footprint of the baggage handling systems. The initial phase of the project was finished in 2018 and the entire system is scheduled to be completed in 2027. With estimates that

11972-467: The competition between the two giant aircraft manufacturers, which has since become a duopoly competition . An optional upgrade with winglets became available for the Classic and NG series. Development began in 1979 for the 737's first major revision, which was originally introduced as the 'new generation' of the 737. Boeing wanted to increase capacity and range, incorporating improvements to upgrade

12118-450: The denser, 200-seat MAX 200), and MAX 9 replace the 737-700, -800, and -900 respectively. The further stretched 737 MAX 10 has also been added to the series. The aim was to re-engine the 737NG family using CFM LEAP-1B engines having very high bypass ratio, to compete with the Airbus A320neo family. On July 20, 2011, Boeing announced plans for a third major upgrade and respectively fourth generation of 737 series to be powered by

12264-482: The discrepancy was described as a "design flaw" by the Port of Seattle and blamed on the project's contractor. The airport's digital infrastructure, including its website, phone lines, check-in system, and automated baggage sorting, was disabled by a cyberattack on August 24, 2024. Most of the systems were restored by August 31, but the Port of Seattle websites and passenger information systems remained offline. The airport has seen record growth in passenger traffic in

12410-437: The engines to the wings which lightened the structure and simplified the accommodation of six-abreast seating in the fuselage. The engine nacelles were mounted directly to the underside of the wings, without pylons, allowing the landing gear to be shortened, thus lowering the fuselage to improve baggage and passenger access. Relocating the engines from the aft fuselage also allowed the horizontal stabilizer to be attached to

12556-517: The field. Among the aircraft on display is the first Boeing 747 , the third Boeing 787 , and an ex- British Airways Concorde , lent to the museum from BA, a supersonic airliner that landed at Boeing Field on its first visit to Seattle on November 15, 1984. Aircraft on the airfield can be seen from the museum. The King County International Airport contracts with the King County Sheriff's Office for police services. Deputies assigned to

12702-611: The final 737-200 aircraft in the U.S. flying scheduled passenger service were phased out, with the last flights of Aloha Airlines . As of 2018, the variant still saw regular service through North American charter operators such as Sierra Pacific Airlines . The short-field capabilities of the 737-200 led Boeing to offer the "Unpaved Strip Kit" (see the Air North example, right). This option reduced foreign object damage when operated on remote, unimproved or unpaved runways, that competing jetliners could not use safely. The kit included

12848-411: The final commercial aircraft delivered to MSA on October 31, 1969. This variant was largely overshadowed by its bigger 737-200 sibling, which entered service two months later. The original engine nacelles incorporated thrust reversers taken from the 727 outboard nacelles. They proved to be relatively ineffective and tended to lift the aircraft up off the runway when deployed. This reduced the downforce on

12994-467: The first test flight are made at Boeing Field. Boeing facilities at the airport have also included a paint hangar and flight test facilities. The initial assembly of the 737 was at Boeing Field in the 1960s because the factory in Renton was at capacity building the Boeing 707 and Boeing 727 . After 271 aircraft, production moved to Renton in late 1970. The Museum of Flight is on the southwest corner of

13140-484: The first variant of the 737 MAX, has a longer fuselage than the MAX 7. On July 23, 2013, Boeing completed the firm configuration for the 737 MAX 8. Its first commercial flight was operated by Malindo Air on May 22, 2017. The MAX 8 replaced the 737-800 and competed with the A320neo. The 737 MAX 200 , a high-density version of the 737 MAX 8, was launched in September 2014 and named for seating for up to 200 passengers in

13286-525: The four concourses of the central terminal and out to the two satellite terminals. All non-precleared international arrivals arrive at the South Satellite or Concourse A, regardless of their departure terminal. A dedicated international arrivals facility with customs control is on the southeast side of the terminal building and connected to the South Satellite via an overhead walkway and to the Concourse A gates via sterile walkways. The overhead bridge from

13432-559: The global 737 fleet had completed more than 184 million flights over 264 million block hours since its entry into service. It was the highest-selling commercial aircraft until being surpassed by the competing Airbus A320 family in October 2019, but maintains the record in total deliveries. The 737 MAX, designed to compete with the A320neo , was grounded worldwide between March 2019 and November 2020 following two fatal crashes. Boeing had been studying short-haul jet aircraft designs, and saw

13578-510: The government of King County adopted the Sea–Tac Communities Plan in 1976 to address problems and guide future development. The Port spent more than $ 100 million over the next decade to buy homes and school buildings in the vicinity, and soundproof others nearby. In the mid-1980s, the airport participated in the airport noise-compatibility program initiated by Congress in 1979. Airport-noise contours were developed, real estate

13724-487: The improvements of the 737 Classic series, allowing longer routes with fewer passengers to be more economical than with the 737-300. The fuselage length of the 737-500 is 1 foot 7 inches (48 cm) longer than the 737-200, accommodating up to 140 passengers. Both glass and older-style mechanical cockpits arrangements were available. Using the CFM56-3 engine also gave a 25 percent increase in fuel efficiency over

13870-456: The initial 737-100 made its first flight in April 1967 and entered service in February 1968 with Lufthansa . The lengthened 737-200 entered service in April 1968, and evolved through four generations, offering several variants for 85 to 215 passengers. The First Generation 737-100/200 variants were powered by Pratt & Whitney JT8D low-bypass turbofan engines and offered seating for 85 to 130 passengers. Launched in 1980 and introduced in 1984,

14016-438: The larger diameter of the engine over the original Pratt & Whitney engines. Gregoire's team and CFM solved the problem by reducing the size of the fan (which made the engine slightly less efficient than it had been forecast to be), placing the engine ahead of the wing, and by moving engine accessories to the sides of the engine pod, giving the engine a distinctive non-circular "hamster pouch " air intake. Earlier customers for

14162-428: The last 737-100s in service. The first aircraft used by Boeing as prototype under registration N73700 was later ordered by and delivered to NASA on July 26, 1973, which then operated it under registration N515NA and retired after 30 years on September 27, 2003. The last 737-100 built and also the last operating was originally sold to Malaysia–Singapore Airlines : it was transferred to Air Florida before being used as

14308-457: The last scheduled passenger jets were operated by Hughes Airwest with McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30s in 1971. A proposal by Southwest Airlines in June 2005 was submitted to King County to relocate from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Boeing Field, but was rejected by King County Executive Ron Sims in October. A similar proposal by Alaska Airlines (a response to the Southwest proposal)

14454-402: The longer length. Entry into service with launch operator Southwest Airlines was expected in January 2019, but the airline deferred these orders until 2023–2024. The 737 MAX 7 replaced the 737-700 and was predicted to carry 12 more passengers and fly 400 nautical miles (740 km; 460 mi) farther than the competing Airbus A319neo with 7% lower operating costs per seat. The 737 MAX 8,

14600-528: The longest of which is 1,430 feet (440 m) long and 130 feet (40 m) tall. The airport's Central Terminal building was renovated and expanded in 2003 in a project designed by Curtis W. Fentress , of Fentress Architects . The renovation and expansion began in 1996 and underwent extensive modifications to accommodate new security requirements following the September 11 attacks in 2001. In 2014, Delta Air Lines announced plans to expand Seattle into

14746-537: The longest, north–south runway; an additional runway to the south ran east–west. The terminal building's "inverted V" shape was arranged to match the runway layout. The north–south runway (now Runway 16L/34R) was lengthened to 7,500 ft (2,300 m) in 1950, to 8,500 ft (2,600 m) in 1955, and to 10,200 ft (3,100 m) in 1958 to support commercial jetliners. The first parking lot at Sea–Tac opened in 1955 with room for 527 vehicles. The United States Postal Service opened its air mail terminal at

14892-477: The main wheels thereby reducing the effectiveness of the wheel brakes. In 1968, an improvement to the thrust reversal system was introduced. A 48-inch tailpipe extension was added and new target-style thrust reversers were incorporated. The thrust reverser doors were set 35 degrees away from the vertical to allow the exhaust to be deflected inboard and over the wings and outboard and under the wings. The improvement became standard on all aircraft after March 1969, and

15038-451: The name reverted to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport and the four signs with Jackson's name were removed. In the late 1980s, the Port of Seattle and a council representing local county governments considered the future of air traffic in the region and predicted that the airport could reach capacity by 2000. The rising use of regional airliners such as Horizon Air caused aircraft movements to triple from 1978 to 1990 and air cargo use at

15184-462: The north. In 2007, the airport became the first to implement an avian radar system providing 24-hour monitoring of wildlife activity across the airfield. This pilot program, designed and implemented with the assistance of the University of Illinois Center of Excellence for Airport Technology (CEAT), was intended to decrease potentially fatal incidents involving collisions with birds and to provide

15330-413: The older 737-200s P&W engines. The 737-500 has faced accelerated retirement due to its smaller size, after 21 years in service compared to 24 years for the -300. While a few 737-300s were slated for freighter conversion, no demand at all existed for a -500 freighter conversion. The 737-500 was replaced by the 737-600 of the Next Generation series, though the -600 was not as successful in total orders as

15476-505: The only major change. The MAX 10 was launched on June 19, 2017, with 240 orders and commitments from more than ten customers. The variant configuration with a predicted 5% lower trip cost and seat cost compared to the A321neo was firmed up by February 2018, and by mid-2018, the critical design review was completed. The MAX 10 has a similar capacity to the A321XLR, but shorter range and much poorer field performance in smaller airports. It

15622-446: The opening of the facility, 3,200 parking spaces in the central parking structure opened for general use. Passengers reach the facility on a five-minute trip aboard one of 29 low-floor Gillig CNG buses. Previously, only Alamo , Avis , Sixt , Budget , Hertz and National had cars on site. Advantage , Dollar , Enterprise , Thrifty , EZ Rent-A-Car and Fox Rent A Car ran shuttles to off-site locations. As of 2012 , Rent-a-Wreck

15768-539: The original -200s and respectively -100s. The 737-200 Advanced became the production standard in June 1971. Boeing also provided the 737-200C ( Combi ), which allowed for conversion between passenger and cargo use and the 737-200QC (Quick Change), which facilitated a rapid conversion between roles. The 1,114th and last delivery of a -200 series aircraft was in August 1988 to Xiamen Airlines . Nineteen 737-200s, designated T-43 , were used to train aircraft navigators for

15914-413: The passenger terminal, and are 8,500 to 11,900 feet (2,600–3,600 m) long. In calendar year 2023, the airport had 422,508 aircraft operations, or 1,158 per day: 99% commercial, <1% air taxi , <1% general aviation , and <1% military. A new control tower was built beginning in 2001 and opened in November 2004, at the cost of $ 26 million. The floor of the new tower's control cab

16060-457: The primary competitor for the 737NG series remained only the A320 family. The 737-600, the smallest model of the Next-Generation, was launched by Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) in March 1995 with the first aircraft delivered in September 1998. A total of 69 aircraft without winglets have been produced with the last one delivered to WestJet in 2006. The 737-600 replaced the 737-500 and is similar to

16206-460: The process for passengers was complicated by the satellite's isolated location. With the opening of the new IAF, Concourse A will now also be used for arriving international flights, nearly doubling the number of gates capable of serving arriving international passengers. The South Satellite Terminal is also planned to be renovated. The IAF was initially designed to accommodate 20 widebody aircraft, but four gates were not built to those specifications;

16352-592: The renamed Seattle–Tacoma International Airport was formally dedicated by Governor Arthur Langlie on July 9, 1949, in front of a crowd of 30,000 spectators. The 71,000-square-foot (6,600 m ) building, designed by architect Herman A. Moldenhour , included a rooftop control tower and glass courting walls in the concourses. The 907-acre (367 ha) airport originally had four runways at 45-degree angles, between 5,000 and 6,100 feet (1,500 and 1,900 m) long, for crosswind operations. The two perpendicular runways were arranged into an "X"-shape that intersected near

16498-485: The renovation of 170,000 square feet (16,000 m ) of space in Concourses B, C, and D. On June 15, 2004, the 2,102-foot (641 m) new Concourse A was unveiled with 14 new gates, a dozen new restaurants, new artwork and the airport's first moving sidewalks. Residents of the surrounding area filed lawsuits against the Port in the early 1970s, complaining of noise, vibration, smoke, and other problems. The Port and

16644-450: The seats can be removed to carry cargo instead. There is a large door on the left side of the aircraft. The United States Navy was the launch customer for the 737-700C under the military designation C-40 Clipper . The 737-700ER (Extended Range ) was launched on January 31, 2006, and featured the fuselage of the 737-700 and the wings and landing gear of the 737-800. A 737-700ER can typically accommodate 126 passengers in two classes with

16790-442: The series has received 5,011 firm orders. In March 2019, civil aviation authorities around the world grounded the 737 MAX following two hull loss crashes which caused 346 deaths. On December 16, 2019, Boeing announced that it would suspend production of the 737 MAX from January 2020, which was resumed in May 2020. In the midyear 2020, the FAA and Boeing conducted a series of recertification test flights. On November 18, 2020,

16936-417: The start of what would become a large public art collection owned by the Port. In the mid-1980s, the Main Terminal was renovated and another 150 feet (46 m) was added to the north end. Concourse D was expanded in 1987 with a rotunda that added four new gates. In 1993, Concourses B, C, and D were renovated. The project, designed by NBBJ , included the addition of 150,000 square feet (14,000 m ) and

17082-437: The state. The Port of Seattle offers paid on-site parking in a 12,100-space garage, notable for being North America's largest parking structure under one roof. The airport also offers valet parking and electric vehicle charging stations. Several privately owned parking facilities are located off-site near the airport with shuttle access. The airport is served by the 1 Line of Sound Transit 's Link light rail system at

17228-666: The terminal in a project it called the North Satellite Renovation Plan (NorthSTAR). In 2016, the Port announced it would also significantly expand the terminal. The $ 550 million project called the North Satellite Modernization increased the size of the North Satellite by 201,000 square feet (18,700 m ) and another eight gates, bringing the total to 20. The project's first phase, dedicated on July 11, 2019, expanded

17374-482: The terminal to the west by 240 feet (73 m) and added eight gates, a mezzanine level with eateries, and a rooftop lounge for Alaska Airlines. The second phase modernized the remaining areas of the old terminal and expands dining and retail space around the twenty existing gates. The new terminal opened on June 29, 2021. In 2022, the Port of Seattle completed a new 450,000-square-foot (42,000 m ) International Arrivals Facility (IAF) east of Concourse A, along with

17520-456: The terminal was dedicated on July 9, 1949. Sea–Tac was expanded in 1961 to accommodate jetliners and added new concourses and satellite terminals by 1973. The main runway was extended several times and twinned in 1970; the third runway opened in 2008 following several decades of planning due to local opposition. Several major concourse expansions and renovations were initiated in the 2010s to accommodate passenger growth at Sea–Tac, which had become

17666-520: The three European short-haul single aisles slowly withdrew from the competition. Sales were low in the early 1970s and, after a peak of 114 deliveries in 1969, only 22 737s were shipped in 1972 with 19 in backlog. The US Air Force saved the program by ordering T-43s , which were modified Boeing 737-200s. African airline orders kept the production running until the 1978 US Airline Deregulation Act , which improved demand for six-abreast narrow-body aircraft. Demand further increased after being re-engined with

17812-490: The total to 19, a 12,000 square feet (1,100 m ) area housing international arrivals and the offices of U.S. Customs, Immigration, Public Health and the Department of Agriculture. Concourse C opened in July 1966. Four years later, it was extended to include another 10 gates, bringing the total to 35. The first non-stop flights from Sea–Tac to mainland Europe began in September 1966 with Scandinavian Airlines , who used

17958-481: The year ending January 1, 2019 the airport had 183,268 aircraft operations, average 502 per day: 79% general aviation , 15% air taxi , 6% airline, and <1% military. 384 aircraft were then based at this airport: 229 single-engine, 40 multi-engine, 88 jet, 26 helicopter , and 1 glider . The runway numbers were updated from 13/31 to 14/32 in August 2017, due to shifting magnetic headings. In addition to tie-down parking areas and hangars for general aviation aircraft,

18104-400: Was US$ 4.0M (1968) ($ 35M today). The -200's unit cost was US$ 5.2M (1972) ($ 37.9M today). The 737-200 Advanced is an improved version of the -200, introduced into service by All Nippon Airways on May 20, 1971. After aircraft #135, the 737-200 Advanced has improved aerodynamics, automatic wheel brakes, more powerful engines, more fuel capacity, and hence a 15% increase in payload and range over

18250-1183: Was also operating Douglas DC-4 service from the airport in 1950 nonstop to Fairbanks, AK with direct one stop service to Nome, AK as well as DC-4 nonstop service to Ketchikan, AK (via the Annette Island Airport ) with flights continuing on to Juneau, AK followed by Whitehorse, Yukon in Canada and then on to Fairbanks. In later years, West Coast Airlines operated scheduled passenger flights from Boeing Field to Idaho, Oregon, Washington state, northern California, western Montana, northern Utah, and Calgary in Alberta . The airline's April 1968 timetable lists nonstop service to Aberdeen, WA / Hoquiam, WA , Boise, ID , Olympia, WA , Pasco, WA , Portland, OR , Salt Lake City, UT , Spokane, WA , Tacoma, WA , Wenatchee, WA and Yakima, WA operated with primarily with Fairchild F-27 prop-jets as well as Douglas DC-3 and Piper Navajo prop aircraft but also with Douglas DC-9 jets to Portland, Boise and Salt Lake City. West Coast, which had its headquarters in

18396-483: Was also rejected. Southwest Airlines said it wanted to avoid the heavy fees at Sea-Tac due to its expansion program. The transfer of ownership of Boeing Field from King County to the Port of Seattle was proposed in 2007 as part of a land swap with land owned by the Port. Boeing Field is planned to handle more cargo traffic, including "overflow" from nearby Sea-Tac, as part of its long-range plans. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 called it

18542-558: Was chosen at the end of the month ahead of another candidate near Lake Sammamish that was considered too close to the Cascade Range . The City of Tacoma provided $ 100,000 towards the airport's construction costs as part of a deal for the Bow Lake site, centered around an existing private airfield plagued by heavy fog . Construction of the airport, which was named Seattle–Tacoma in recognition of Tacoma's contribution, began with

18688-474: Was chosen partly due to its location along State Route 99 , approximately midway between Seattle and Tacoma. Interstate 5 and Interstate 405 also converge near the airport, with an easy connection to the airport via State Route 518 and the Airport Expressway. State Route 509 runs west of the airport, connecting the area to West Seattle. The airport is the largest generator of vehicle trips in

18834-450: Was designated the -300SP ( Special Performance ). The 737-300 was replaced by the 737-700 of the Next Generation series. The 737-400 was launched in 1985 to fill the gap between the 737-300 and the 757-200. In June 1986, Boeing announced the development of the 737-400, which stretched the fuselage a further 10 feet (3.0 m), increasing the capacity to 188 passengers, and requiring a tail bumper to prevent tailstrikes during take-off and

18980-491: Was designated the 737-200, with the original short-body aircraft becoming the 737-100. Detailed design work continued on both variants simultaneously. The first -100 was rolled out on January 17, 1967, and took its maiden flight on April 9, 1967, piloted by Brien Wygle and Lew Wallick. After several test flights the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued Type Certificate A16WE certifying

19126-502: Was due to be retired in early 2023. As of September 2023 , a relatively high number of 737-200s remain in service compared to other early jet airliners, with fifty examples actively flying for thirty carriers. During the 737 MAX groundings , older 737s, including the 200 and Classic series , were in demand for leasing. C-GNLK, one of Nolinor's 737-200s, is the oldest jet airliner in commercial service as of 2024, having entered service 50 years prior in 1974. The Boeing 737 Classic

19272-414: Was due to enter service in April 2019. The 737 MAX 9, the stretched variant of the MAX 8, was launched with an order of 201 aircraft in February 2012. It made its roll-out on March 7, 2017, and first flight on April 13, 2017; It was certified by February 2018. The launch customer, Lion Air Group, took the first MAX 9 on March 21, 2018, before entering service with Thai Lion Air . The 737 MAX 9 replaced

19418-405: Was equipped with CFM56-7 high pressure ratio engines, a glass cockpit , and upgraded interior configurations. The four main models of the series can accommodate seating for 108 to 215 passengers. It was further developed into additional versions such as the corporate Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) and military P-8 Poseidon aircraft. Following the merger between Boeing with McDonnell Douglas in 1997,

19564-559: Was introduced to meet the range and passenger capacity of the discontinued 757-200 and to directly compete with the Airbus A321 . The Boeing 737 MAX is the name given to the main models 737 MAX 7/8/9/10 series and the higher-density MAX 200 variant of the Boeing 737 family. It is offered in four main variants, typically offering 138 to 230 seats and a range of 3,215 to 3,825 nautical miles [nmi] (5,954 to 7,084 km; 3,700 to 4,402 mi). The 737 MAX 7, MAX 8 (including

19710-437: Was launched in December 2010 and reached 1,029 orders by June 2011, breaking Boeing's monopoly with American Airlines , which had an order for 130 A320neos that July. The 737 MAX had its first flight on January 29, 2016, and gained FAA certification on March 8, 2017. The first delivery was a MAX 8 on May 6, 2017, to Lion Air 's subsidiary Malindo Air , which put it into service on May 22, 2017. As of January 2019 ,

19856-610: Was limited due to the U.S. Army Air Force 's need for the airport to stage Boeing B-29 bombers for delivery. Various airlines had irregular flights to the airport, which used a Quonset hut with limited heating as a terminal until a permanent building was financed by a bond issue that voters approved in 1946. The first scheduled commercial flights began on September 1, 1947, with Northwest Airlines and Western Airlines operating ten daily departures. They were joined by United, Alaska , Trans-Canada , Western , and Pan Am by 1951 as airlines departed from Boeing Field. The terminal at

20002-402: Was not a model delivered by Boeing and hence the nickname Special Freighter (SF) . Alaska Airlines was the first to convert one of their 400s from regular service to an aircraft with the ability to handle 10 pallets. The airline had also converted five more into fixed combi aircraft for half passenger and freight. These 737-400 Combi aircraft were retired in 2017 and replaced by the 737-700F of

20148-416: Was operating Douglas DC-6 , Douglas DC-4 and Douglas DC-3 service from Boeing Field in 1947 with direct, no change of plane flights to San Francisco , Los Angeles , Salt Lake City , Denver , Boise , Oakland , Burbank , San Diego , Vancouver, B.C. , Chicago , Cleveland , Washington, D.C. , Philadelphia and New York City . At this same time in 1947, United was also operating 20 nonstop flights on

20294-398: Was operating all flights from the airport with 21-passenger seat Douglas DC-3s with direct service to such major cities as Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN , Milwaukee , Chicago , Detroit and New York City with these eastbound flights making intermediate stops enroute at smaller cities such as Spokane , Great Falls , Missoula , Helena , Billings and other small cities. United Airlines

20440-728: Was operating nonstop McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jet service from the airport to Portland, Spokane and Pasco as well as direct, no change of plane DC-9-30 service to Boise, Calgary, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Twin Falls, Lewiston, Phoenix and Tucson, and was also operating Fairchild F-27 turboprop service from BFI at this time to Astoria, Bend, Ephrata, Hoquiam, Klamath Falls, Lewiston, Olympia, Pasco, Portland, Pullman, Sacramento, Spokane, Tacoma, Walla Walla, Wenatchee and Yakima. Aeroamerica , an airline based at Boeing Field from 1971 to 1982 which operated Boeing 707 and Boeing 720 jetliners, flew nonstop to Spokane, Washington in 1978. Air Oregon ,

20586-585: Was operating scheduled passenger Douglas DC-3 service from the airport by November 1946 and served Boeing Field for many years. West Coast successors Air West followed by Hughes Airwest operated scheduled passenger flights including McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jet service until 1971 when Hughes Airwest moved its service to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. West Coast began operating Douglas DC-9-10 jet service from Boeing Field in 1968. Boeing Field has one passenger airline, Kenmore Air with daily flights to Friday Harbor and Eastsound/Orcas Island. Before 2019,

20732-497: Was originally based on the 737-700, flying 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km; 1,200 mi) farther and accommodating two more seat rows at 18% lower fuel costs per seat. The redesign uses the 737-8 wing and landing gear; a pair of over-wing exits rather than the single-door configuration; a 46-inch-longer (1,200 mm) aft fuselage and a 30-inch-longer (760 mm) longer forward fuselage; structural re-gauging and strengthening; and systems and interior modifications to accommodate

20878-446: Was purchased and some homes were retrofitted to achieve noise mitigation . In 1978 the U.S. ended airline regulation, and the U.S. airlines were allowed to determine routes and fares without government approval. Deregulation resulted in some new service to Seattle, including from TWA , then the fourth-largest U.S. airline, as well as Delta, National, and American. Shortly after the death of U.S. Senator Henry Martin "Scoop" Jackson ,

21024-450: Was redesigned, the flight deck was improved with the optional EFIS (Electronic Flight Instrumentation System), and the passenger cabin incorporated improvements similar to those developed on the Boeing 757 . The prototype -300, the 1,001st 737 built, first flew on February 24, 1984, with pilot Jim McRoberts. It and two production aircraft flew a nine-month-long certification program. The 737-300 retrofitted with Aviation Partners ' winglets

21170-552: Was the last remaining company to not relocate to the consolidated facility and continue using their own shuttles. Boeing 737 The Boeing 737 is an American narrow-body airliner produced by Boeing at its Renton factory in Washington . Developed to supplement the Boeing 727 on short and thin routes, the twinjet retained the 707 fuselage width and six abreast seating but with two underwing Pratt & Whitney JT8D low-bypass turbofan engines. Envisioned in 1964,

21316-502: Was widely preferred over the -100 by airlines. The improved version, the 737-200 Advanced, was introduced into service by All Nippon Airways on May 20, 1971. The 737 original model with its variants, known later as the Boeing 737 Original , initially competed with SE 210 Caravelle and BAC-111 due to their earlier entry into service and later primarily with the McDonnell Douglas DC-9, then its MD-80 derivatives as

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