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Seattle–Tacoma International Airport

Coordinates: 47°26′56″N 122°18′34″W / 47.44889°N 122.30944°W / 47.44889; -122.30944
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For the city where this airport is situated, see SeaTac, Washington. For the county airport, see Boeing Field.

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport
Aerial view of SEA Airport in August 2012, looking north.
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorPort of Seattle
ServesSeattle metropolitan area
LocationSeaTac, Washington, U.S.
OpenedOctober 31, 1944; 80 years ago (1944-10-31)
Hub for
Time zonePST (UTC−08:00)
 • Summer (DST)PDT (UTC−07:00)
Elevation AMSL132 m / 433 ft
Coordinates47°26′56″N 122°18′34″W / 47.44889°N 122.30944°W / 47.44889; -122.30944
Websiteportseattle.org/sea-tac
maps.flysea.org
Maps
FAA airport diagram
FAA airport diagram
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
16L/34R 3,627 11,901 Concrete
16C/34C 2,873 9,426 Concrete
16R/34L 2,591 8,500 Concrete
Statistics (2023)
Passengers50,877,260
Aircraft movements422,508
Cargo (metric tons)417,052
Sources: FAA[1] and airport website[2]

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport[a] (IATA: SEA, ICAO: KSEA, FAA LID: SEA) is the primary international airport serving Seattle and its metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Washington. It is in the city of SeaTac, which was named after the airport's nickname Sea–Tac, approximately 14 miles (23 km) south of Downtown Seattle and 18 miles (29 km) north-northeast of Downtown Tacoma.[3] The airport is the busiest in the Pacific Northwest region of North America and is owned by the Port of Seattle.

The entire airport covers an area of 2,500 acres (1,000 hectares) and has three parallel runways.[1][4] It is the primary hub for Alaska Airlines, whose headquarters are near the airport.[5] The airport is also a hub and international gateway for Delta Air Lines, which has expanded at the airport since 2011. As of 2022, 31 airlines operate at Sea–Tac, serving 91 domestic and 28 international destinations in North America, Oceania, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.[6]

Sea–Tac was developed in the 1940s to replace Boeing Field, which had been converted to military use during World War II. A site near Bow Lake was chosen in 1942 and construction began the following year with funding from the federal government, Port of Seattle, and the City of Tacoma. The first scheduled commercial flights from the airport began in September 1947 and the terminal was dedicated on July 9, 1949. Sea–Tac was expanded in 1961 to accommodate jetliners and added new concourses and satellite terminals by 1973. The main runway was extended several times and twinned in 1970; the third runway opened in 2008 following several decades of planning due to local opposition.

Several major concourse expansions and renovations were initiated in the 2010s to accommodate passenger growth at Sea–Tac, which had become a new hub for Delta Air Lines. A new international arrivals facility opened in 2022 as part of the program. In 2023, Sea–Tac served 50,887,260 passengers, 2 percent below the all-time record set in 2019.[7]

History

[edit]

Construction and early growth (1942–1967)

[edit]

A shared public airport was proposed by the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma in the late 1920s, but deferred plans after the legality of public ports operating such facilities was rejected by the state attorney general in a published opinion. The state legislature authorized municipal corporations such as public ports to establish aviation facilities in 1941.[8] The Port of Seattle accepted a $1 million grant (equivalent to $14.7 million in 2023 dollars)[9] from the Civil Aeronautics Administration in March 1942 to construct a new airport to serve the Seattle area after the U.S. military took control of Boeing Field during World War II. A site on U.S. Route 99 near Bow Lake south of Seattle was chosen at the end of the month ahead of another candidate near Lake Sammamish that was considered too close to the Cascade Range. The City of Tacoma provided $100,000 towards the airport's construction costs as part of a deal for the Bow Lake site, centered around an existing private airfield plagued by heavy fog.[10] Construction of the airport, which was named Seattle–Tacoma in recognition of Tacoma's contribution, began with a groundbreaking ceremony on January 2, 1943.[11][12]

The project was originally estimated to cost $1.7 million (equivalent to $23.4 million in 2023 dollars),[9] but the sandy soil conditions drove the final construction price to over $4.2 million (equivalent to $57.8 million in 2023 dollars).[9] The airport's plateau was formed through 6.5 million cubic yards (5,000,000 m3) of excavated earth.[10] A proposal to rename the airport for Boeing president Philip G. Johnson shortly after his death in September 1944 was rejected by Port of Seattle commissioners due to the objections of Tacoma. The first ceremonial landing at Seattle–Tacoma Airport was made on October 31, 1944, by a United Air Lines DC-3 carrying local elected officials and civic leaders.[13] The first commercial flights launched in May 1945 with Northwest Airlines, but use was limited due to the U.S. Army Air Force's need for the airport to stage Boeing B-29 bombers for delivery. Various airlines had irregular flights to the airport, which used a Quonset hut with limited heating as a terminal until a permanent building was financed by a bond issue that voters approved in 1946.[10]

The first scheduled commercial flights began on September 1, 1947, with Northwest Airlines and Western Airlines operating ten daily departures.[14] They were joined by United, Alaska, Trans-Canada, Western, and Pan Am by 1951 as airlines departed from Boeing Field.[15] The terminal at the renamed Seattle–Tacoma International Airport was formally dedicated by Governor Arthur Langlie on July 9, 1949, in front of a crowd of 30,000 spectators.[16] The 71,000-square-foot (6,600 m2) building, designed by architect Herman A. Moldenhour, included a rooftop control tower and glass courting walls in the concourses.[10][17] The 907-acre (367 ha) airport originally had four runways at 45-degree angles, between 5,000 and 6,100 feet (1,500 and 1,900 m) long, for crosswind operations. The two perpendicular runways were arranged into an "X"-shape that intersected near the longest, north–south runway; an additional runway to the south ran east–west.[18] The terminal building's "inverted V" shape was arranged to match the runway layout.[19] The north–south runway (now Runway 16L/34R)[20] was lengthened to 7,500 ft (2,300 m) in 1950, to 8,500 ft (2,600 m) in 1955, and to 10,200 ft (3,100 m) in 1958 to support commercial jetliners.[12][21]

The first parking lot at Sea–Tac opened in 1955 with room for 527 vehicles.[18] The United States Postal Service opened its air mail terminal at the airport in 1957 to serve areas west of the Mississippi River and mail bound for Asia;[18] other government agencies, including the Weather Bureau and the Customs Service also established offices at Sea–Tac. On June 28, 1959, Japan Airlines became the first international carrier to operate at Sea–Tac when it began its service to Tokyo.[21] Several projects were completed by 1961 to prepare for the Seattle World's Fair the following year, including a runway extension over South 188th Street, which was placed in an automobile tunnel that opened in July 1961.[22][23] During construction of the runway extension in February 1961, the fossilized skeleton of a Megalonyx jeffersonii giant sloth was discovered and excavated for display at the Burke Museum in Seattle.[24] The two-story North Concourse (later named Concourse D)[25] opened a month later with four gate positions to prepare for regular jetliner service; the concourse's wing was 600 feet (180 m) long and 30 feet (9.1 m) wide.[26] Jetliner service began in October with Pan Am's Boeing 707 to Honolulu.[15] The 688-foot-long (210 m) South Concourse (now Concourse A)[25] opened in May 1961 alongside an expanded parking lot with capacity for 2,000 vehicles.[15][27]

The 800-foot (240 m) long Concourse B opened in December 1964. It added eight gate positions, bringing the total to 19, a 12,000 square feet (1,100 m2) area housing international arrivals and the offices of U.S. Customs, Immigration, Public Health and the Department of Agriculture.[26] Concourse C opened in July 1966.[26] Four years later, it was extended to include another 10 gates, bringing the total to 35.[26] The first non-stop flights from Sea–Tac to mainland Europe began in September 1966 with Scandinavian Airlines, who used a polar route to reach Copenhagen.[15] A parallel second runway was completed 800 feet (240 m) west of the main runway in 1970.[22]

Later expansions and third runway (1967–2008)

[edit]

The Port embarked on a major expansion plan, designed by The Richardson Associates[28] and lasting from 1967 to 1973, adding a second runway, a parking garage, two satellite terminals and other improvements. In 1973, $28 million new terminal was built over and around the 1949 structure;[22] the new terminal quadrupled the area for public use.[26][29] On July 1, 1973, the airport opened two new satellite terminals, along with an underground train system to connect them to the Main Terminal.[29][30] These fully automatic shuttle trains were among the first of their kind in the United States. Also unprecedented in any U.S. airport: as part of the expansion the Port commissioned $300,000 worth of artworks; these were the start of what would become a large public art collection owned by the Port.[29]

In the mid-1980s, the Main Terminal was renovated and another 150 feet (46 m) was added to the north end.[26] Concourse D was expanded in 1987 with a rotunda that added four new gates.[26] In 1993, Concourses B, C, and D were renovated. The project, designed by NBBJ, included the addition of 150,000 square feet (14,000 m2) and the renovation of 170,000 square feet (16,000 m2) of space in Concourses B, C, and D.[31] On June 15, 2004, the 2,102-foot (641 m) new Concourse A was unveiled with 14 new gates, a dozen new restaurants, new artwork and the airport's first moving sidewalks.[26]

Residents of the surrounding area filed lawsuits against the Port in the early 1970s, complaining of noise, vibration, smoke, and other problems. The Port and the government of King County adopted the Sea–Tac Communities Plan in 1976 to address problems and guide future development. The Port spent more than $100 million over the next decade to buy homes and school buildings in the vicinity, and soundproof others nearby. In the mid-1980s, the airport participated in the airport noise-compatibility program initiated by Congress in 1979. Airport-noise contours were developed, real estate was purchased and some homes were retrofitted to achieve noise mitigation.[32]

In 1978 the U.S. ended airline regulation, and the U.S. airlines were allowed to determine routes and fares without government approval. Deregulation resulted in some new service to Seattle, including from TWA, then the fourth-largest U.S. airline, as well as Delta, National, and American.

Alaska and United planes at the North Satellite Terminal in 2008
Sea–Tac Airport in September 2007 as runway 16R/34L was under construction (opened November 2008)

Shortly after the death of U.S. Senator Henry Martin "Scoop" Jackson, the Port Commission voted on September 13, 1983, to change the airport's name to the Henry M. Jackson International Airport. Citizens of Tacoma were angered by the removal of their city's name despite their contribution to the airport's original construction budget, which had come with a promise to share the name. An additional complicating factor was the existence of another Jackson International Airport (now Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport) in Jackson, Mississippi.[33] During the November 1983 elections, an advisory referendum in Tacoma on the airport's name endorsed the original name by a 4–1 margin and two incumbent Port commissioners were defeated by candidates in favor of restoring the Sea–Tac name.[33][34] Helen Jackson, the widow of the late senator, expressed her desire that their family remain neutral in the debate.[35] With a 3–2 vote of the Port Commission on February 28, 1984, the name reverted to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport and the four signs with Jackson's name were removed.[34][36]

In the late 1980s, the Port of Seattle and a council representing local county governments considered the future of air traffic in the region and predicted that the airport could reach capacity by 2000. The rising use of regional airliners such as Horizon Air caused aircraft movements to triple from 1978 to 1990 and air cargo use at the airport had also risen dramatically.[37] In 1992, the planning committee concluded that the best solution was to add a third runway to the airport and construct a supplemental two-runway airport in one of the neighboring counties. Members of the community opposed a third runway, as did the Highline School District and the cities of Des Moines, Burien, Federal Way, Tukwila, and Normandy Park,[38] but a 1994 study concluded there were no feasible sites for an additional airport. The Port of Seattle approved a plan for the new runway in 1996, prompting a lawsuit from opponents. The Port secured the necessary permits by agreeing to noise reduction programs and environmental protections.[39] Runway opponents appealed these permits, but dropped their challenges in 2004.[40]

The third runway, measuring 8,500 feet (2,600 m) long, opened on November 20, 2008, with a construction cost of $1.1 billion. Parallel to the existing two, the new runway is 2,500 ft (760 m) west of runway 34R, allowing landings on both in times of low visibility. The older runways are 800 ft (240 m) apart, too close to allow use of both in low visibility.[41] The third runway project included 13 million cubic yards (9,900,000 m3) of fill dirt and several retaining walls, the longest of which is 1,430 feet (440 m) long and 130 feet (40 m) tall.[42]

Modernization and expansion (2008–present)

[edit]

The airport's Central Terminal building was renovated and expanded in 2003 in a project designed by Curtis W. Fentress, of Fentress Architects.[citation needed] The renovation and expansion began in 1996 and underwent extensive modifications to accommodate new security requirements following the September 11 attacks in 2001.[43]

In 2014, Delta Air Lines announced plans to expand Seattle into a transpacific hub. Since then, Delta has added numerous international flights and dozens of domestic flights to feed those services. Delta's increased presence in Seattle has been seen by some industry analysts as a response to United Airlines' transpacific hub at San Francisco, as well as Delta's disenchantment with its former Tokyo–Narita hub.[44]

In late 2021, shortly after Alaska Airlines joined American Airlines in the Oneworld alliance, American announced that they would increase their international presence in Seattle.[45] However, as of 2023, American had abandoned plans for long-haul flights to Asia from Seattle (including its proposed service to Bangalore, India) and ended service to London-Heathrow, their only intercontinental service from Seattle.[46]

The North Satellite Terminal only received limited upgrades since it opened in 1973, and needed modernization.[47] The Port of Seattle initially looked at simply updating the terminal in a project it called the North Satellite Renovation Plan (NorthSTAR). In 2016, the Port announced it would also significantly expand the terminal. The $550 million project called the North Satellite Modernization increased the size of the North Satellite by 201,000 square feet (18,700 m2)[48] and another eight gates, bringing the total to 20. The project's first phase, dedicated on July 11, 2019, expanded the terminal to the west by 240 feet (73 m) and added eight gates, a mezzanine level with eateries, and a rooftop lounge for Alaska Airlines. The second phase modernized the remaining areas of the old terminal and expands dining and retail space around the twenty existing gates. The new terminal opened on June 29, 2021.[49][50]

The IAF Pedestrian Walkway at Sea-Tac.

In 2022, the Port of Seattle completed a new 450,000-square-foot (42,000 m2) International Arrivals Facility (IAF) east of Concourse A, along with a 900-foot (270 m)-long high bridge that will take passengers from the South Satellite, up 85 feet (26 m) above the existing taxiway and over the top of Concourse A.[51] The project was initially expected to be completed by 2021 at a cost of $766 million,[52][53] though revised to $968 million in late 2018.[54] The old customs and immigration facility was located in the basement of the South Satellite, and operated well over its design capacity. Additionally, the process for passengers was complicated by the satellite's isolated location.[55] With the opening of the new IAF, Concourse A will now also be used for arriving international flights, nearly doubling the number of gates capable of serving arriving international passengers. The South Satellite Terminal is also planned to be renovated.[48] The IAF was initially designed to accommodate 20 widebody aircraft, but four gates were not built to those specifications; the discrepancy was described as a "design flaw" by the Port of Seattle and blamed on the project's contractor.[56]

The airport's digital infrastructure, including its website, phone lines, check-in system, and automated baggage sorting, was disabled by a cyberattack on August 24, 2024.[57] Most of the systems were restored by August 31, but the Port of Seattle websites and passenger information systems remained offline.[58]

Future

[edit]

The airport has seen record growth in passenger traffic in the 2010s and 2020s. The busiest day for outbound passengers was July 24, 2023, with 73,651 passengers; more than 198,000 passengers (departing, arriving, and connecting) passed through the airport that day. The previous record for outbound passengers was set on August 16, 2019, at 72,154.[59] The growth has been partly fueled by the nationwide expansion of Seattle-based Alaska Airlines and by Delta Air Lines setting up a major international hub at SEA Airport. That growth has strained the airport's facilities and led the port to invest more than $2 billion into several expansion and renovation projects.[60]

The airport has six outbound baggage handling systems with limited to no cross-connectivity. The system now in place is aging and reaching its maximum capacity. A $320.4 million project will create one unified, high-speed baggage system under the airport.[48] That will allow bags to be checked from any ticketing counter, to receive security screening faster, and to be routed to any gate in the airport. The extra efficiency and speed will allow the airport to handle more baggage in the future without expanding the footprint of the baggage handling systems. The initial phase of the project was finished in 2018 and the entire system is scheduled to be completed in 2027.[50][61]

With estimates that the Puget Sound region will grow by another one million people by 2035, the Port of Seattle began developing the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) in 2018 to meet passenger and cargo demands. The SAMP recommends more than 30 projects to improve efficiency and airport access, including a new terminal with 19 gates and an automated people mover through three separate stations.[62] Near-term projects that are scheduled to be completed in the 2020s include restroom renovations, security checkpoint expansion, and roadway realignment.[63] A four-story addition to the existing structure of Concourse C began in 2023 and is scheduled to be completed in 2027 at a cost of $399 million; it includes a "central gathering place" under a large wooden ceiling.[64] Further projects include an automated parking garage guidance system, a gateway project in cooperation with Alaska Airlines, Concourse A building expansion for lounges, improved curbside safety and accessibility, continued refurbishment of the Central Terminal, and a replacement of controls pertaining to the SEA Underground shuttles.[citation needed]

Facilities

[edit]

Terminals

[edit]
Central terminal with views of the runways
SEA Airport terminal buildings with Mount Rainier in the distance

The airport has 115 gates[65] in four concourses and two satellite buildings.[66] The two satellite terminal buildings, named the North and South Satellites, are connected to the four concourses in the main terminal by a three-line automated people mover system called the SEA Underground. The underground transit system moves passengers within the four concourses of the central terminal and out to the two satellite terminals.[67]

All non-precleared international arrivals arrive at the South Satellite or Concourse A, regardless of their departure terminal.[68] A dedicated international arrivals facility with customs control is on the southeast side of the terminal building and connected to the South Satellite via an overhead walkway and to the Concourse A gates via sterile walkways.[56] The overhead bridge from the South Satellite is 780 feet (240 m) long and rises 87 feet (27 m) over a taxiway.[56]

  • Concourse A contains 16 gates,[66] and is primarily used by Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and several international carriers.[69]
  • Concourse B contains 17 gates,[66] and is primarily used by Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines.[69]
  • Concourse C contains 27 gates,[66] and is used exclusively by Alaska Airlines.[69]
  • Concourse D contains 17 gates,[66] and is mainly used by Alaska Airlines and American Airlines.[69]
  • North Satellite contains 20 gates,[66] and is used exclusively by Alaska Airlines.[69]
  • South Satellite contains 14 gates,[66] and is used by Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, and many domestic and international carriers.[69]

The five security checkpoints at Sea–Tac are located in the main terminal and are managed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). All of the checkpoints offer Clear Secure prescreening, while TSA Precheck is available from two.[70] The airport began using a virtual queuing program, called SEA Spot Saver, in 2021 to reduce wait times and control crowds at security lines.[71] Wait times at the TSA checkpoints during peak departure periods averaged 20 minutes in 2019 and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a maximum of 90 minutes reached in June 2023.[72] During particularly busy periods, the queues for security have backed up into the airport's main parking garage and caused several hours of delays for passengers.[70]

The Port of Seattle maintains and curates a collection of public artwork at Sea–Tac that began with acquisitions in 1968 and was formalized with a percent for art ordinance passed in 2000.[73] The airport's art collection comprises 289 works, which includes paintings, murals, stained glass pieces, video art, and sculptures, and is valued at $40 million.[74] A live music program began as a one-year pilot in 2013 with 20 musicians who performed for 780 total hours.[75] It was expanded into a permanent airport fixture the following year during daytime hours and was temporarily replaced by a video wall during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.[76]

Airfield

[edit]
The interior of SEA Airport's control tower, commissioned in 2004, is 850 sq ft (79 m2). At the center is a radar display; at the top right is the light gun.

The three parallel runways run nearly north–south, west of the passenger terminal, and are 8,500 to 11,900 feet (2,600–3,600 m) long.[1] In calendar year 2023, the airport had 422,508 aircraft operations, or 1,158 per day: 99% commercial, <1% air taxi, <1% general aviation, and <1% military.[77]

A new control tower was built beginning in 2001 and opened in November 2004, at the cost of $26 million.[78] The floor of the new tower's control cab is 233 ft (71 m) above ground level; the tower's overall height including antennas is 269 ft (82 m). The cab has 850 sq ft (79 m2) of space and was designed to support operation by ten controllers, with possible future expansion up to 15. The site and construction method of the tower were designed to maximize the visibility and efficacy of radar systems. The airport's original control tower, built in the 1950s, is now part of the passenger terminal and used as a ramp control tower after being repaired from damage caused by the 2001 Nisqually earthquake.

A recurring problem at the airport is the misidentification of the westernmost taxiway, Taxiway Tango, as a runway. A large "X" has been placed on the north end of the taxiway, but many aircraft have landed on the taxiway.[79] The FAA issued an alert notice dated from August 27, 2009, to September 24, 2009, urging airplanes about taking precautions such as REILs and other visual cues while landing from the north.

In 2007, the airport became the first to implement an avian radar system providing 24-hour monitoring of wildlife activity across the airfield. This pilot program, designed and implemented with the assistance of the University of Illinois Center of Excellence for Airport Technology (CEAT), was intended to decrease potentially fatal incidents involving collisions with birds and to provide a test bed for the implementation of the technology in the US, which was expected to begin in 2009. The technology is part of a strategy to reduce the presence of wildlife on the airfield.[80]

Other facilities

[edit]

The Seattle office of the National Weather Service operates a weather station at the airport, with a temperature gauge between the center and eastern runways. The airport has served as Seattle's official weather recording location since 1945.[81]

As of April 2023, Sea-Tac has over 23,000 total workers, including 400 to 500 customs agents and 850 TSA security officers. The airport has 3,800 cameras that are monitored from a control center staffed by Port of Seattle Airport Operations personnel. A separate control center monitors the baggage handling system at Sea-Tac, which includes 10 miles (16 km) of conveyor belts and handled 14.5 million pieces in 2022.[82] Sea-Tac is the first major airport in the U.S. to use filters to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from its firefighting foam, which had sickened firefighters and workers.[83]

Ground transportation

[edit]
An airport-bound Link light rail train in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel

The airport site was chosen partly due to its location along State Route 99, approximately midway between Seattle and Tacoma. Interstate 5 and Interstate 405 also converge near the airport, with an easy connection to the airport via State Route 518 and the Airport Expressway. State Route 509 runs west of the airport, connecting the area to West Seattle. The airport is the largest generator of vehicle trips in the state.[84]

The Port of Seattle offers paid on-site parking in a 12,100-space garage, notable for being North America's largest parking structure under one roof.[85] The airport also offers valet parking and electric vehicle charging stations. Several privately owned parking facilities are located off-site near the airport with shuttle access.[86]

The airport is served by the 1 Line of Sound Transit's Link light rail system at the SeaTac/Airport station with frequent service to downtown Seattle and the University of Washington. The station opened on December 19, 2009, and is connected to the airport terminal via a pedestrian bridge to the airport parking garage.[87] Another pedestrian bridge over International Boulevard is used to access the city of SeaTac, nearby airport hotels, and King County Metro buses including RapidRide A Line. A 1.6-mile light rail extension south to Angle Lake station at South 200th Street opened on September 24, 2016.

The airport is also served both by the King County Metro bus system and Sound Transit regional express buses. Sound Transit buses offer service to West Seattle, White Center, Burien, Renton, Newcastle and Bellevue through Route 560. In contrast, Route 574 offers service to Lakewood via Des Moines, Federal Way, and Tacoma.

Tukwila Station, which is approximately 5 miles east of the airport, is served by Sounder commuter rail and Amtrak Cascades regional inter-city rail with service north to Vancouver, Canada, and service south to Portland and Eugene in Oregon. This station can be reached in about 30 minutes via the Central Link light rail or the RapidRide A Line bus service and transferring at Tukwila International Boulevard station to the RapidRide F Line bus service.[88]

The airport serves door-to-door shuttle services (Shuttle Express and Speedi Shuttle) and several scheduled airporter bus services. Airporters include Bellair Charters to Yakima and Bellingham, and the Quick Shuttle to downtown Vancouver, Canada, through Quick Shuttle, with other pick-up stops at downtown Seattle, Bellingham International Airport, and drop-off stops just inside the Canadian–U.S. boundary and at the Vancouver International Airport.[89]

Taxis, limousines, and transportation network companies (Lyft, Uber and Wingz) are also available.[90] Prior to 2019, the Port of Seattle contracted out taxi services to an independent company, but changed to direct management with drivers due to protests over high access fees. As of 2023, the airport has 409 taxi drivers who are part of the Teamsters Local 117 labor union.[91]

A 23-acre (9.3 ha) consolidated rental car facility opened on May 17, 2012.[92][93] The facility is at the northeastern portion of the airport at the intersection of South 160th Street and International Boulevard South. The facility has 5,400 parking spaces[94] and can handle up to 14,000 transactions per day.[94] After the opening of the facility, 3,200 parking spaces in the central parking structure opened for general use.[95] Passengers reach the facility on a five-minute trip aboard one of 29 low-floor Gillig CNG buses.[94] Previously, only Alamo, Avis, Sixt, Budget, Hertz and National had cars on site. Advantage, Dollar, Enterprise, Thrifty, EZ Rent-A-Car and Fox Rent A Car ran shuttles to off-site locations. As of 2012, Rent-a-Wreck was the last remaining company to not relocate to the consolidated facility and continue using their own shuttles.[94]

Airlines and destinations

[edit]

Passenger

[edit]
AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Aer Lingus Dublin [96]
Aeroméxico Mexico City [97]
Air Canada Toronto–Pearson
Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau 		[98]
Air Canada Express Vancouver [98]
Air France Paris–Charles de Gaulle [99]
Air Tahiti Nui Papeete, Paris–Charles de Gaulle (ends January 5, 2025)[100] [101]
Alaska Airlines Albuquerque, Anchorage, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Bellingham, Billings, Boise, Boston, Bozeman, Burbank, Calgary, Cancún, Charleston (SC), Chicago–O'Hare, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus–Glenn, Dallas/Fort Worth, Dallas–Love, Denver, Detroit, Edmonton, El Paso, Eugene, Fairbanks, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Fresno, Glacier Park/Kalispell, Great Falls, Helena, Honolulu, Houston–Intercontinental, Idaho Falls, Indianapolis, Jackson Hole, Juneau, Kahului, Kelowna, Kailua-Kona, Kansas City, Ketchikan, Las Vegas, Lihue, Los Angeles, Medford, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Missoula, Monterey, Nashville, Newark, New Orleans, New York–JFK, Oakland, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Ontario, Orange County, Orlando, Palm Springs, Philadelphia, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Pittsburgh, Portland (OR), Puerto Vallarta, Pullman, Raleigh/Durham, Redding, Redmond/Bend, Reno/Tahoe, Sacramento, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA), San José del Cabo, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa, Spokane, Sun Valley, Tampa, Toronto–Pearson,[102] Tri-Cities (WA), Tucson, Vancouver, Victoria, Walla Walla, Washington–Dulles, Washington–National, Wenatchee, Wichita, Yakima
Seasonal: Belize City, Eagle/Vail (begins December 20, 2024),[103] Hayden/Steamboat Springs, Liberia (CR) (begins December 21, 2024),[103] Nassau,[104] Sitka 		[105]
All Nippon Airways Tokyo–Haneda [106]
American Airlines Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, Philadelphia
Seasonal: Phoenix–Sky Harbor 		[107]
American Eagle Los Angeles, Phoenix–Sky Harbor [107]
Asiana Airlines Seoul–Incheon [108]
British Airways London–Heathrow [109]
China Airlines Taipei–Taoyuan [110]
Condor Frankfurt [111]
Delta Air Lines Amsterdam, Anchorage, Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Cancún, Chicago–O'Hare, Cincinnati, Dallas/Fort Worth,[112] Denver, Detroit, Fairbanks, Fort Lauderdale, Honolulu, Kahului, Kailua-Kona, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Lihue, London–Heathrow, Los Angeles, Miami (begins December 21, 2024),[113] Minneapolis/St. Paul, Nashville, New York–JFK, Orange County, Orlando, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Portland (OR), Puerto Vallarta, Raleigh/Durham, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San José del Cabo, Seoul–Incheon, Shanghai–Pudong, Spokane, Taipei–Taoyuan,[114] Tampa, Tokyo–Haneda, Washington–Dulles
Seasonal: Juneau, Palm Springs 		[115]
Delta Connection Boise, Denver, Eugene, Lewiston,[116] Medford, Ontario, Portland (OR), Redmond/Bend, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose (CA), Spokane, Tri-Cities (WA), Tucson, Vancouver
Seasonal: Bozeman (resumes December 21, 2024),[117] Ketchikan, Sitka, Sun Valley (resumes December 21, 2024)[117] 		[115]
Edelweiss Air Seasonal: Zurich (begins June 2, 2025) [118]
Emirates Dubai–International [119]
EVA Air Taipei–Taoyuan [120]
Finnair Seasonal: Helsinki [121]
Frontier Airlines Dallas/Fort Worth,[122] Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles (begins December 17, 2024),[123] Ontario,[124] Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Salt Lake City[125] [126]
Hainan Airlines Beijing–Capital, Chongqing[127] [128]
Hawaiian Airlines Honolulu, Kahului, Tokyo–Narita (begins May 12, 2025)[129]
Seasonal: Anchorage (begins June 12, 2025)[130] 		[131]
Icelandair Reykjavík–Keflavík [132]
Japan Airlines Tokyo–Narita [133]
JetBlue Boston
Seasonal: New York–JFK 		[134]
Korean Air Seoul–Incheon [135]
Lufthansa Frankfurt, Munich[136] [137]
Philippine Airlines Manila [138]
Qatar Airways Doha [139]
Scandinavian Airlines Seasonal: Copenhagen (resumes May 21, 2025) [140]
Singapore Airlines Singapore [141]
Southwest Airlines Chicago–Midway, Denver, Houston–Hobby (resumes June 5, 2025),[142] Las Vegas, Oakland, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Sacramento, San Jose (CA)
Seasonal: Baltimore,[143] Dallas–Love, Kansas City, Nashville,[143] St. Louis 		[144]
Spirit Airlines Las Vegas, Los Angeles[145] [146]
Starlux Airlines Taipei–Taoyuan [147]
Sun Country Airlines Minneapolis/St. Paul [148]
Turkish Airlines Istanbul [149]
United Airlines Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Houston–Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, Washington–Dulles [150]
Virgin Atlantic London–Heathrow [151]
Volaris Guadalajara [152]
WestJet Calgary [153]
WestJet Encore Kelowna (begins January 17, 2025)[154]
Seasonal: Edmonton 		[155]

Cargo

[edit]
AirlinesDestinationsRefs.
AeroLogic Frankfurt [156]
Alaska Air Cargo Anchorage, Cordova,[citation needed] Juneau, Ketchikan, Los Angeles, Petersburg, Sitka,[citation needed] Wrangell, Yakutat[citation needed] [157]
Aloha Air Cargo Honolulu, Los Angeles[citation needed] [158]
Amazon Air Allentown,[citation needed] Anchorage,[citation needed] Chicago–O'Hare, Cincinnati, Hartford,[citation needed] Los Angeles, Miami, New York–JFK,[citation needed] Ontario,[citation needed] Riverside, San Bernardino,[citation needed] Wilmington (OH) [159]
Ameriflight Moses Lake, Spokane [160]
Asiana Cargo Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Seoul–Incheon [citation needed]
Cargolux Calgary,[citation needed] Glasgow–Prestwick, Los Angeles,[citation needed] Luxembourg [161]
China Airlines Cargo Anchorage, Chicago–O'Hare, Columbus–Rickenbacker, Miami, New York–JFK, Taipei–Taoyuan [citation needed]
DHL Aviation Cincinnati, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seoul–Incheon, Vancouver [citation needed]
EVA Air Cargo Anchorage, Dallas/Fort Worth, Taipei–Taoyuan [citation needed]
FedEx Express Anchorage, Dallas/Fort Worth, Fort Worth/Alliance, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Memphis, Oakland, Ontario, Portland (OR) [citation needed]
FedEx Feeder Bellingham, Burlington/Mount Vernon, Friday Harbor, Orcas Island, Port Angeles [citation needed]
Kalitta Air Los Angeles, Vancouver [citation needed]
Korean Air Cargo Chicago–O'Hare,[citation needed] Los Angeles,[citation needed] Seoul–Incheon [162]
Lufthansa Cargo Frankfurt [163]
Singapore Airlines Cargo Anchorage,[citation needed] Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth,[citation needed] Singapore [164]

Statistics

[edit]

Top destinations

[edit]
Busiest domestic routes from SEA (September 2023 – August 2024)[165]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Alaska Anchorage, Alaska 1,017,000 Alaska, Delta
2 California Los Angeles, California 1,006,000 Alaska, American, Delta, Spirit, United
3 Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada 966,000 Alaska, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit
4 Arizona Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona 956,000 Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest
5 Colorado Denver, Colorado 953,000 Alaska, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, United
6 California San Francisco, California 771,000 Alaska, Delta, United
7 Texas Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 738,000 Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier
8 Illinois Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 737,000 Alaska, American, Delta, United
9 California San Diego, California 613,000 Alaska, Delta
10 Georgia (U.S. state) Atlanta, Georgia 584,000 Alaska, Delta
Busiest international routes from SEA (July 2023 – June 2024)[166]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Canada Vancouver, Canada 646,982 Air Canada, Alaska, Delta
2 United Kingdom London–Heathrow, United Kingdom 563,733 British Airways, Delta, Virgin Atlantic
3 South Korea Seoul–Incheon, South Korea 529,639 Asiana Airlines, Delta, Korean Air
– Japan Tokyo-Haneda and Tokyo-Narita, Japan combined 388,757 All Nippon Airways, Delta, Japan Airlines
4 France Paris–Charles de Gaulle, France 292,848 Air France, Air Tahiti Nui, Delta
5 Netherlands Amsterdam, Netherlands 279,746 Delta
6 Japan Tokyo–Haneda, Japan 276,520 All Nippon Airways, Delta
7 Taiwan Taipei–Taoyuan, Taiwan 274,479 Delta, EVA Air
8 Germany Frankfurt, Germany 267,026 Condor, Lufthansa
9 Mexico Cancún, Mexico 255,829 Alaska, Delta
10 Qatar Doha, Qatar 240,416 Qatar Airways

Airline market share

[edit]
Top airlines at SEA (September 2023 - August 2024)[165]
Rank Airline Passengers Percent of market share
1 Alaska Airlines 21,842,000 49.21%
2 Delta Air Lines 8,811,000 19.85%
3 SkyWest Airlines 3,107,000 7.00%
4 United Airlines 2,582,000 5.82%
5 Horizon Air 2,462,000 5.55%
— Other Airlines 5,584,000 12.58%

Annual traffic

[edit]
Annual passenger traffic at SEA airport. See Wikidata query.

Annual traffic at SEA

[edit]
SEA Airport Annual Passenger Data 2011-Present[167]
Year Passengers % Change
2011 32,823,220 —
2012 33,223,111 Increase01.22%
2013 34,826,741 Increase04.83%
2014 37,498,267 Increase07.67%
2015 42,340,537 Increase012.91%
2016 45,737,115 Increase08.02%
2017 46,934,619 Increase02.62%
2018 49,849,520 Increase06.21%
2019 51,829,239 Increase03.97%
2020 20,061,507 Decrease061.29%
2021 36,154,015 Increase080.36%
2022 45,964,321 Increase027.13%
2023 50,877,260 Increase010.69%

Accidents and incidents

[edit]
  • November 30, 1947: Alaska Airlines Flight 9, a Douglas C-54A en route to Seattle from Anchorage, Alaska, caught fire after overshooting the runway upon landing in heavy fog and damp conditions following failed attempts at nearby Boeing Field and Paine Field in Everett. Shortly before 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, the plane touched down 2,748 ft (838 m) beyond the approach area to runway 20 and sped onto a nearby road, colliding with a car and bursting into flames. Nine fatalities resulted from the accident, including a blind woman riding in the automobile.[168][169][170]
  • April 2, 1956: Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2, a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser headed to Portland International Airport in Portland, Oregon and points east, experienced reduced power and extreme buffeting shortly after takeoff from runway 20 due to an improper setting of the airplane's cowl flaps by the flight engineer. Plans were initially made to land at McChord Air Force Base, but the pilot was forced to make a water landing in Puget Sound east of Maury Island. The plane sank within 15 minutes; five of the 38 on board died.[171][172][173]
  • November 24, 1971: Northwest Airlines Flight 305, a Boeing 727 flying to SEA Airport from Portland International Airport, was hijacked by a man calling himself "Dan Cooper," later misidentified by the press as "D. B. Cooper". Cooper released the passengers and attendants after landing in exchange for $200,000 and four parachutes, ordered the plane back into the air and jumped out over Southwest Washington with the money.[174] To this day, neither Cooper nor most of the $200,000 have been found.
  • December 26, 1974: Harbor Airlines Flight 308, a Britten Norman Islander bound for Oak Harbor crashed 0.6 miles (1 km) north of SEA Airport in snowy weather conditions into Riverton. Four of the six occupants on board (3 passengers, 1 crew) were killed. Unknown matter in the pitot tubes caused improper readings of the airspeed indicator.[175]
  • January 20, 1983: Northwest Airlines Flight 608, a Boeing 727 flying from SEA Airport to Portland, was hijacked. The man told a flight attendant that he had a bomb and demanded to be taken to Afghanistan. Federal agents stormed the plane after it landed in Portland for refueling. The hijacker was killed and the box he carried revealed no explosives.[176]
  • April 15, 1988: Horizon Air Flight 2658, a twin-engine de Havilland Canada Dash-8 departing for Spokane International Airport, experienced a power loss in the number two engine shortly after takeoff. While the crew lowered the gear for landing as they returned to the airport, a massive fire broke out in the right engine nacelle, resulting in a loss of braking and directional control. After touchdown, the aircraft veered off the runway and crossed the ramp, colliding with two jetways before coming to a stop against a third. The aircraft was destroyed by fire on impact. Four of the 37 passengers were seriously injured, but there were no fatalities.[177][178]
  • August 10, 2018: An empty Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 was stolen by a staff member and ultimately crashed on Ketron Island. Two US Air Force planes tried to force the plane to land.[179]
  • August 24, 2024: An apparent cyberattack caused airport officials to shut down a number of computer systems that handle the airport's website, ticketing/check-in kiosks, baggage handling system, and arrival/departure boards, leading to significant delays. Some airline and airport staff had to resort to writing out boarding passes by hand and manually sorting baggage.[180] The outages were mostly resolved with the website coming back online on November 22.[181]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Branded as SEA Airport and also referred to as Sea–Tac /ˈsiːtæk/.

References

[edit]
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