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A business jet lands over Renton’s Piazza in downtown Renton. I shot this photo with my iPhone a week ago while dining in Rain City Market.
Don’t be surprised to hear more nighttime business jets in Renton through October. Boeing Field has completely closed their smaller runway for the next seven months, and their large runway will be closed every night starting at 8:15-9:15 PM and continuing until 3:30-5:15 AM.
While business jets based at Boeing Field would be expected to schedule their operations for the runway’s daytime (open) hours, Renton will likely pick up nighttime traffic from jets based elsewhere that are flying to our area and trying to work around the closures. Particularly jet taxi services will likely find Renton to be the most convenient nighttime alternative to Boeing Field.
Private jet traffic will likely pick up even more this summer, particularly with the FIFA Club World Cup soccer activities.
The impact from private jets in Renton is already being felt. I’ve heard from a Mercer Island resident who has noticed an overnight increase in Renton jet traffic. Jet traffic from Renton often goes directly over Island Crest Way, near the center of Mercer Island.
Renton Airport management appear to be clearing space for more jets at Renton’s airport, while new Renton fixed base operators have been offering jet owners and pilots increased services.
The Boeing Field Closure announcement is as follows:
Boeing Field’s small runway (left) will be closed 24/7 until October, and the large runway will be closed overnight through October.
The King County Airport (Boeing Field) main office once served as Seattle’s primary air terminal before construction of SeaTac Airport.
Thanks for this information Randy. I did not know the KC Airport is going to have runway closures. Great. I remember when that happened about 15 years ago and Renton got a LOT of big jets. Just in time for windows to be open in the warmer weather too.
Marcie Palmer
Renton City Council
2004-2015