Airport rebrand Archives - Stuck at the Airport

Rebranded airport + plus a Barbie-worthy tree

Seattle is 10 miles to the south. And Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is 40 miles to the south.

But, thanks to a rebrand, Snohomish County Airport Paine Field (PAE) in Everett, WA is now officially Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE).

The name change is designed to “guide more travelers, tourists, and investors to Paine Field and reinforce its geographic proximity to the globally recognized city of Seattle,” Snohomish County, the airport owner, said in a statement.

While most of the flights out of PAE are domestic, the “international” designation is legit because Kenmore Air offers one flight a day to British Columbia, Canada.

Domestic flights on Alaska Airlines from PAE fly to Anchorage, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix, San Diego, and San Francisco with seasonal service to Tucson and Palm Springs. Service to Honolulu begins November 17.

Paine Field is also home to Boeing’s Everett Factory and several popular tourist destinations, including the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour (although the tours are currently suspended) and the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum.

A tree Barbie would love

The Stuck at the Airport team is visiting Boise, Idaho this week to learn about the latest happenings at Boise International Airport (BOI) (stay tuned for that) and to explore the city.

So far, our favorite attraction in downtown Boise is this 23-foot-tall shiny pink tree in Cherie Buckner-Webb Park at the corner of 11th Street and West Bannock

“Gentle Breeze,” by Mathew Mazzotta has 748 leaves that move in the breeze and swings hanging from the branches.

We think Barbie would approve.

Rebrand for San Jose Mineta Int’l Airport

Soda companies do it. Toothpaste companies do it. Car companies do it.

And airports do it too.

Since 2001 you have known it as Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC).

But, thanks to a rebrand, from now on the San José airport will be going by a slightly different name: San José Mineta International Airport.

The name change may seem slight. But it is part of the airport’s goal to become more of a key player in the Bay Area and strengthen the airport’s geographical association with San José.

In addition to the new name, the rebrand includes a new logo, a new color scheme, and a new tagline: Fly Simple.

SJC’s first incorporated the name of US Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta in 2001. And, while many airports are named for people, San José was one of the few airports in the world to be named after a living person. Secretary Mineta passed away on May 3, 2022.

We’re fine with the name change. Just as long as the airport doesn’t mess with the cool public art. And with the charming topiary bear at the entrance.