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Controversial new passenger terminal unveiled at Paine Field

EVERETT, Wash. — We now know what the controversial new passenger terminal at Paine Field will look like, and the company building it says there could be commercial flights by next year.
 
New York-based Propeller Airports' CEO came to Paine Field Thursday.  Brett Smith showed renderings and explained that the new 30,000 square-foot terminal will have two gates and amenities like valet parking.
 
"An airport experience can be enjoyable," Smith said.  "The passenger areas after security aren't going to be something people are used to because there's a fireplace, a lot of glass to see the mountains."
 
We brought the images of the new terminal to Mukilteo Mayor Jennifer Gregerson's office, and she was less than impressed.
 
"The look of the terminal isn't really what this issue is about for us," she explained.
 
The city of Mukilteo has been fighting commercial air service at Paine Field for years.
 
"I guess for the city of Mukilteo it's a really significant issue and we've got real concerns about the noise and traffic impacts," Gregerson told us.
 
Mukilteo sued twice to stop the project; the city failed on the federal level but a county-level suit is still ongoing.
 
The only other terminal Propeller has built is near Atlanta.  Residents there sued too, but the building was completed in 2008.  As of today there is still not commercial air service there.  Smith says Paine Field has plenty of interest from commercial carriers—but he wouldn't say which ones.
 
"Unfortunately I am not at liberty to discuss, that's the airline's prerogative," Smith explained.  He did say, though, that the planes would be mostly 737s, the dozen or so daily flights likely regional and a benefit to the community.
 
"Not to my community, no," Gregerson concluded.
 
Propeller says the airport in Atlanta, Silver Comet Field, is finishing up an environmental impact study.  Even if Mukilteo loses its second lawsuit and the terminal is built Propeller will have to get passing marks on the same kind of study here before it can offer commercial flights.