Washington's Airport Count: How Many Are There?

Washington State, located in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, boasts a significant number of airports catering to various aviation needs. With over 140 public airports, Washington offers a comprehensive air travel network, including commercial, charter, and military flight operations. Notably, 12 airports in the state facilitate commercial passenger flights, with Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, commonly known as Sea-Tac Airport, being the largest and busiest. This airport, serving Seattle and nearby areas, handles over 24 million passengers annually and is a cornerstone for travel in the region. In addition to Sea-Tac, Spokane International Airport and smaller regional airports contribute to Washington's robust aviation infrastructure, making the state easily accessible from destinations across the United States and beyond.

Commercial and charter flights

There are 12 airports in Washington State that offer commercial and charter flights. The busiest and largest of these is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac), which sees over 24 million passengers each year. The airport is located between Seattle and Tacoma and is served by more than 30 airline carriers, including Alaska Airlines and Delta.

The second busiest airport in Washington is Spokane International Airport, which serves around 4 million passengers. Spokane Airport is located west of Spokane and serves the Spokane–Coeur d’Alene area. The airport has one terminal with three concourses and is served by eight airlines.

The remaining airports in Washington State that offer commercial and charter flights are much smaller and are often referred to as regional airports. These include:

• Bellingham International Airport
• Boeing Field/King County International Airport
• Friday Harbor Airport
• Tri-Cities Airport
• Orcas Island Airport
• Paine Field Airport
• Pangborn Memorial Airport
• Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport
• Walla Walla Regional Airport
• Yakima Air Terminal

Military airports

Washington State is served by a number of military airports, in addition to its public and private airports. These military airports include:

• NAS Whidbey Island (Ault Field)
• Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles
• Fairchild Air Force Base
• McChord Field (Joint Base Lewis–McChord) (formerly McChord Air Force Base)
• Gray Army Airfield (Fort Lewis)
• Vagabond Army Airfield (Yakima Training Center)
• Selah Airstrip (Yakima Training Center)

NAS Whidbey Island is a Naval Air Station located on Whidbey Island, in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. It is home to various squadrons and units of the US Navy and US Marine Corps, including electronic attack, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, and search and rescue helicopters.

Fairchild Air Force Base is located in Spokane County, Washington, and is home to the 92nd Air Refuelling Wing of the Air Mobility Command, as well as the 141st Air Refuelling Wing of the Washington Air National Guard. The base operates the KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft and supports global air refuelling and airlift operations.

McChord Field is now part of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, located in Pierce County, Washington. It is home to the 62nd Airlift Wing of the Air Mobility Command, operating C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, as well as the Washington Air National Guard's 446th Airlift Wing. The base provides global military airlift capability and supports humanitarian and disaster relief efforts.

Gray Army Airfield is part of Fort Lewis, a US Army installation located south of Tacoma, Washington. It is home to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), which provides helicopter support for special operations forces.

Vagabond Army Airfield and Selah Airstrip are both located within the Yakima Training Center, a US Army training facility in Yakima County, Washington. These airfields support the training of soldiers and units in aviation and air-ground operations, including helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicle operations.

Private airfields

Washington state has a plethora of private airfields, with over 140 public airports in the state. Private-use airports include Blakely Island Airport, Center Island Airport, and Decatur Shores Airport.

International airports

Washington State has four international airports, though not all of them currently operate commercial international flights. These airports are:

Seattle Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac)

The largest airport in Washington State, Sea-Tac is located midway between downtown Seattle and Tacoma. It is the busiest airport in the state, serving over 24 million passengers each year, and is in the top 10 busiest US airports. It is served by a variety of domestic and international airlines, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta, Emirates, and Qatar Airways, among others. The airport serves all major US airports and most US states, as well as most Canadian airports and major cities in Europe and Asia, with connections to Central and South America.

Spokane International Airport, Spokane

Spokane International Airport is the second-largest airport in Washington State and is located 8 km west of Spokane. Despite its name, it does not currently operate international flights outside the US. It is served by several domestic airlines, including Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, and United Airlines. Destinations served include Reno-Tahoe, Boise, Los Angeles, Portland, San Jose, Seattle-Tacoma, Las Vegas, and Atlanta, among others.

Bellingham International Airport, Bellingham

Bellingham International Airport is the most northern airport in Washington State. While it is listed as an international airport, it does not currently operate any international flights. Domestic airlines serving the airport include Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, San Juan Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. Destinations served include Seattle-Tacoma, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, Phoenix/Mesa, San Diego, Eastsound, and Friday Harbor.

Boeing Field/King County International Airport, Seattle

Despite its name, King County International Airport does not operate any international flights. It is located south of Seattle and primarily caters to general aviation and occasional charter services. The airport is served by Kenmore Air. Destinations served include Eastsound and Friday Harbor.

Regional airports

Washington State has 12 airports that operate commercial passenger flights, but there are over 140 public airports across the state.

• Friday Harbor Airport, Friday Harbor: A small airport on San Juan Island, Friday Harbor Airport connects to a few destinations nearby in Washington State, including Eastsound, Boeing Field, Anacortes, Bellingham, Everett, and Lopez Island. Domestic airlines serving this airport include Kenmore Air and San Juan Airlines.
• Tri-Cities Airport, Pasco: Tri-Cities Airport connects passengers to the southern point of Washington State and offers direct flights to 11 major cities in the U.S. Domestic airlines serving this airport include aha!, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, Avelo Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection, and United Express.
• Orcas Island Airport, Eastsound: Orcas Island Airport is one of the smallest commercial airports in Washington State, located on Orcas Island. It connects to four small airports nearby, including Friday Harbor, Boeing Field, Anacortes, and Bellingham. Domestic airlines serving this airport include Kenmore Air and San Juan Airlines.
• Paine Field Airport, Everett: Paine Field, also known as Snohomish County Airport, is located 25 miles north of Seattle and operates direct flights to several major cities in the U.S. Alaska Airlines is the only domestic airline serving this airport.
• Pangborn Memorial Airport, Wenatchee: Located almost directly in the center of Washington State, Pangborn Memorial Airport connects Seattle to Wenatchee, the Apple Capital of the World. Alaska Airlines is the only domestic airline serving this airport.
• Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport, Pullman: Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport is the westernmost airport in Washington State, located four miles west of Moscow, Idaho. This airport is popular for accessing Washington State University and the University of Idaho. Alaska Airlines is the only domestic airline serving this airport.
• Walla Walla Regional Airport, Walla Walla: Walla Walla Regional Airport is the southernmost airport in Washington and is mainly used for business and recreational flights. Its commercial flights connect to Seattle-Tacoma only. Alaska Airlines is the only domestic airline serving this airport. Flying into Walla Walla is a great option for those looking to explore the region's wine country.
• Yakima Air Terminal, Yakima: Yakima Air Terminal is located in central Washington State. It is an option for those looking to explore the Yakima Valley wine region instead of driving from Seattle. Alaska Airlines is the only domestic airline serving this airport.

Frequently asked questions