Originally Posted by
Toshbaf
Then the gate area is too small. The gate area should have seating for 350 people, which is 175 per gate. If the plane is a 737-900ER and completely full, the rest of the passengers may be in the rest room or restaurant or standing. As far as the inbound passengers, they can walk from the gate to baggage claim without stopping or stopping only in the rest room.
The fact that PAE is small is
quite deliberate. The airport is owned by Snohomish County, and many surrounding communities in Snohomish County (and the people living there) don't want a full-scale commercial airport and sued to prevent this from happening. The FAA told Snohomish County that because FAA funds were used, they can't prohibit commercial use of the airport,
but there is no specific size they have to make the terminal for commercial service. Thus PAE is fully intended to remain small and not expand over time.