✈️ Seattle's Two Major Business Aviation Airports Rise Together in Summer, with KPAE Leading Growth
Both of the Seattle metro area's major business aviation airports recorded notable growth during the peak summer travel season. Avi-Go data shows that from June 27 to July 27, 2026, Boeing Field (KBFI) handled 4,750 business jet movements (2,361 departures, 2,389 arrivals), a 29.3% increase over 3,674 in the same period last year, representing 1,076 more movements; Paine Field (KPAE) handled 1,715 movements over the same period, up 54.1% year-over-year, or 602 more movements. KBFI's absolute volume was approximately 2.77 times that of KPAE, remaining the metro area's primary airport, but KPAE grew faster and is accelerating its capture of regional business aviation traffic. The two airports combined for 6,465 movements, consistent with the local peak in summer vacation travel.
Impact: KPAE's growth was significantly faster, indicating that some regional business aviation traffic is being diverted to that airport, and its ground handling, parking, and fueling capacity pressures will rise rapidly; although KBFI's growth was slower, its absolute increase was the largest, and slots and parking positions are tightening as the primary airport operates at high levels.
Recommendation: KPAE's FBOs and ground handlers should add temporary ramp space and fueling shifts throughout the sustained August peak season, prioritizing turnaround capacity during peak hours; operators and brokers should reserve more generous arrival slot buffers for Seattle legs in August, and incorporate KPAE into diversion and traffic distribution contingency plans to ease slot pressure at KBFI.