What you're seeing over Seattle
Over Seattle, the jets descending over the city are usually lining up for Seattle-Tacoma International, about 13 miles south of downtown. SEA is Alaska Airlines' home hub and a major Delta hub, and in the most common configuration, south flow, its arrivals come straight down the length of the city, passing over Elliott Bay, downtown and Beacon Hill at a few thousand feet.
Seattle also has aircraft you won't see anywhere else. Boeing builds the 737 in Renton and widebodies at Paine Field in Everett, and new jets fly test and delivery flights from Renton, Paine Field and Boeing Field. Floatplanes from Kenmore Air and other operators take off and land on Lake Union, right in the middle of the city. Joint Base Lewis-McChord to the south adds C-17s. That mix makes Seattle one of the most interesting places in the country to watch the sky. The live map shows it all, and our guide to identifying a plane overhead will help when something unusual turns up.
Airports near Seattle
- major hubSEASeattle-Tacoma International Airport
KSEA · 11 miles south of downtown
Alaska Airlines' main hub and a major Delta hub, with three parallel north-south runways. Live traffic at SEA ↗ - general aviationBFIKing County International Airport–Boeing Field
KBFI · 5 miles south of downtown
A busy airport south of downtown used by Boeing, cargo carriers, business jets and the Museum of Flight. Live traffic at BFI ↗ - general aviationRNTRenton Municipal Airport
KRNT · 10 miles southeast of downtown
The airport beside Boeing's 737 factory, where new 737s make their first flights. Live traffic at RNT ↗ - commercialPAEPaine Field (Snohomish County Airport)
KPAE · 21 miles north of downtown
Home of Boeing's Everett widebody factory, with a small passenger terminal. Live traffic at PAE ↗ - militaryTCMMcChord Field (Joint Base Lewis-McChord)
KTCM · 33 miles south of downtown
A major Air Mobility Command base south of Tacoma flying C-17s. Live traffic at TCM ↗
Common traffic over Seattle
Alaska Airlines dominates SEA with 737 MAX 9s, 737-900ERs and 737-800s, while Horizon flies E175s on shorter routes. Delta has built a big hub with A321s, 737s and widebodies to Asia. International carriers fly 777s, 787s and A350s from Asia and Europe.
SEA's three parallel runways run north-south:
- South flow, the most common configuration because of prevailing southerly winds in the wet season: arrivals come straight down over Seattle, from the north, crossing Elliott Bay, downtown and Beacon Hill, and departures climb out to the south toward Tacoma.
- North flow, common on sunny summer days with north winds: arrivals come up from the south over Federal Way and Kent, and departures head north over Seattle.
Boeing Field adds UPS, DHL and Amazon freighters and Boeing test aircraft, including new 737 MAX jets fresh from Renton. Paine Field handles widebody tests and deliveries.
Floatplanes are a Seattle classic: Kenmore Air flies de Havilland Beavers and Otters from Lake Union and Lake Washington to the San Juan Islands and Canada. Helicopters include Harborview's Airlift Northwest medevac, King County Sheriff's Guardian One, and TV news helicopters. McChord's C-17s often fly over Puget Sound, and Navy EA-18G Growlers from Whidbey Island sometimes pass to the north.
Aircraft you'll often see here
Boeing 737 MAX 9
narrowbody airliner
Boeing 737-900 / 737-900ER
narrowbody airliner
Boeing 737-800
narrowbody airliner
Boeing 737 MAX 8
narrowbody airliner
Embraer E175
regional jet
Airbus A321
narrowbody airliner
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
long-haul widebody twin-jet
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
military strategic airlifter
Plane-spotting tips for Seattle
The Museum of Flight, beside Boeing Field, is the best-known spot, with views of test aircraft and freighters alongside an outstanding collection. Gas Works Park on Lake Union's north shore is perfect for watching floatplanes. For SEA, North SeaTac Park and the nearby neighborhoods give views of arrivals in south flow. In Renton, Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, on Lake Washington, sits right beside the airport's north end and gives views of new 737s over the lake. Seattle's winter overcast can hide aircraft, while summer is usually clear and dry. Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill offers the classic skyline view, with south-flow arrivals crossing Elliott Bay behind the Space Needle.
Seattle sky questions
Why do planes fly so low over downtown Seattle?
In south flow, the most common configuration, SEA's arrivals approach from the north straight down the length of the city, passing over downtown and Beacon Hill at a few thousand feet.
What are the brand-new planes flying over Renton?
Boeing builds the 737 at its Renton factory, and new jets make their first flights and test flights from Renton Municipal Airport and Boeing Field.
Can floatplanes really land on Lake Union?
Yes. Kenmore Air and other operators fly scheduled and charter floatplane service from Lake Union, right in the middle of Seattle.
Nearby cities
Planes over Portland (145 mi) · Planes over Sacramento (625 mi) · Planes over San Francisco (679 mi) · Planes over Salt Lake City (700 mi)