Seattle private jet airports and FBOs
For most private flights in and out of Seattle, our recommended airport is Boeing Field (KBFI), four miles south of downtown. Four other airports serve the region, and which one we use depends on where you are and what you are flying.
- Renton (KRNT): the south end of Lake Washington, close to Bellevue, for a smaller aircraft
- Paine Field (KPAE): Everett, for Snohomish County and the north end of the Eastside
- Sea-Tac (KSEA): the commercial airline airport, for a connection from an airline to a private flight
- Tacoma Narrows (KTIW): Gig Harbor, for Tacoma and the South Sound
- KBFIBoeing Field
- KRNTRenton
- KPAEPaine Field
- KSEASea-Tac
- KTIWTacoma Narrows
The five airports, and what flies from each
Boeing Field (KBFI)
Boeing Field handles several times the private jet traffic of the other four airports combined. Most charter flights here are super-midsize and light jets, chiefly Citation Latitudes and Longitudes, Challenger 350s and Phenom 300s. The jets owners fly from here run larger, led by the Gulfstream G280 and G650ER.
From downtown, Bellevue and most of the Eastside, your flight leaves from Boeing Field. With customs open every day, a flight home from abroad clears right here.
Renton (KRNT)
Renton sees the least private jet traffic of the five. Its charter is light and super-midsize, led by the Citation Latitude and Phenom 300. Owners who fly in privately come on light jets, Citation Encores and CJ3s among them.
Renton is where we bring an Eastside client on a light jet. In our own flying experience, a smaller aircraft gets in and out of Renton a lot more easily when Seattle’s air traffic is congested. Customs takes arrivals from Canada only, arranged a business day ahead. From anywhere else abroad, the flight clears at Boeing Field first and continues to Renton.
Paine Field (KPAE)
Paine Field is the second-busiest of the five, at a fraction of Boeing Field’s traffic, with the most even mix of jet sizes in the region. Charter runs from Citation Excels and Latitudes to Gulfstreams, and corporate owners base Gulfstream G550s and Global 6000s here.
For anyone north of the city, Paine Field means no drive south through Seattle to reach the aircraft. A flight from abroad clears customs here on weekdays, and after hours by arrangement.
Sea-Tac (KSEA)
Sea-Tac sees a small fraction of Boeing Field’s private jet traffic, and most of it is super-midsize. Charter brings in the same Citation Latitudes, Phenom 300s and Challenger 350s seen at Boeing Field, and companies fly their own Gulfstream G280s and Falcons from here.
When you land at Sea-Tac on a commercial airline, we arrange a VIP escort to meet you in the terminal and a car service to take you directly to Boeing Field. Departing from Boeing Field avoids Sea-Tac fees and repositioning. If the connection is too tight for the drive, the private flight leaves from Sea-Tac itself. Customs at the FBO takes arrivals from Canada only; a private flight from anywhere else abroad clears at Boeing Field.
Tacoma Narrows (KTIW)
Tacoma Narrows is an owners’ airport, the one field of the five where privately flown jets outnumber charter. Owners base Citation Sovereigns, Encores and Phenom 300s here, and the charter that comes in is light and super-midsize, Citation Latitudes most of all.
Flying from here saves anyone in Tacoma and the South Sound the drive up I-5 to Boeing Field, at both ends of the trip. An arrival from abroad clears customs here when it is arranged for that flight in advance; otherwise it clears at Boeing Field on the way in.
At a glance
| Airport | Where | From downtown Seattle | From Bellevue | FBOs | US customs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing Field (KBFI) | Georgetown, south of downtown | 10 to 15 min | 20 to 30 min | Modern Aviation, Signature Aviation, Skyservice | Daily, 8am to 4pm; after hours on request |
| Renton (KRNT) | South end of Lake Washington | 20 to 25 min | 20 to 35 min | Vesper Aviation | Arrivals from Canada only |
| Paine Field (KPAE) | Everett, north of the city | 30 to 45 min | 30 to 45 min | Propeller Aero Services | Weekdays, 8am to 4pm; after hours on request |
| Sea-Tac (KSEA) | SeaTac, south of the city | 15 to 25 min | 25 to 40 min | Signature Aviation | Arrivals from Canada only |
| Tacoma Narrows (KTIW) | Gig Harbor, across the Narrows from Tacoma | 40 to 55 min | 50 to 65 min | Pavco Flight Center, Skyport Aviation | By prior arrangement, flight by flight |
FBOs
Boeing Field (KBFI)
- Modern Aviation, 8285 Perimeter Road South, Seattle, WA 98108 · Get directions
- Signature Aviation, 7149 Perimeter Road, Seattle, WA 98108 · Get directions
- Skyservice, 8555 Perimeter Road South, Seattle, WA 98108 · Get directions
Renton (KRNT)
- Vesper Aviation, 750 West Perimeter Road, Unit #1, Renton, WA 98057 · Get directions
Paine Field (KPAE)
- Propeller Aero Services, 9724 Wilcoxson Way, Everett, WA 98204 · Get directions
Sea-Tac (KSEA)
- Signature Aviation, 18291 Starling Road, Seattle, WA 98158 · Get directions
Tacoma Narrows (KTIW)
- Pavco Flight Center, 1110 26th Ave NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98335 · Get directions
- Skyport Aviation, 1306 26th Avenue NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98335 · Get directions
Helicopter and seaplane
A helicopter can meet the aircraft on the ramp and carry on to a house or an island with no road to it, and a seaplane reaches the same places from the water. We arrange both, on the same itinerary as the flight.
Where to next
Tell us where you will be, and each aircraft option we send comes with the airport already chosen. Call +1 (206) 208-7700 at any hour, or write to charter@atmosphere-aviation.com. For aircraft and trips from Seattle, see our Seattle private jet charter page.