Consultant lays out legal limits and practical tools for treating Puget Sound airports as a system

Peter, the consultant and legal presenter, opened the technical discussion by distinguishing capacity from demand across airports, saying: "airport capacity and demand... are not the same and they're not at the same airports." He reviewed federal obligations that require federally obligated airports to be "available for public use on reasonable terms without unjust discrimination," and warned that formal restrictions on which carriers may operate at a given airport generally require FAA consent or statutory authority.

Peter summarized tools available to airport sponsors that stay on the right side of those constraints: differential pricing during peak periods, promotional fee waivers to encourage service at less-congested airports, and coordinated facility planning and leases. "Airports can provide incentives for new service," he said, adding that federal law allows limited airport-system financial cooperation if the airports are within a defined local airport system. He also cautioned that activities that look like collusion could raise antitrust issues unless the state provides clear authorization.

The presentation framed the policy trade-offs for the group: pursue cooperative incentives and system planning now, or seek clearer statutory protection from the legislature before moving to more formal coordination. Evan and other members pressed for examples and next steps; Peter said a legislative authorization for a local airport system would offer legal cover and political clarity for coordinated action.