TIMELY TERMINAL COMPLETION AT SEATTLE-TACOMA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is nearing completion of a $700 million upgrade to the North Satellite Terminal which was originally constructed in 1973. The project is a month ahead of schedule and the terminal will completely open by the end of this month. While passenger traffic in 2020 declined 61 percent from levels reached prior to the pandemic, the slowdown helped the airport to accelerate the renovation project as contractors were able to expedite their processes with fewer passengers in the terminal. The airport estimates 2021 traffic to be reduced by 30 percent, but recent activity uptick has further justified the benefit of the terminal’s early opening to meet increasing demand.

Costs for the improvements are paid for with airport income and fees associated with airlines and passenger ticketing. Passengers will now have access to a modernized North Satellite experience with larger and brighter spaces. A sustainability initiative employed by the project will save around 2.8 million gallons of water per year by draining rain from the terminal’s roof into tanks utilized for restrooms. The majority of gates in the new terminal have been leased to Alaska Airlines with 16 of the 20 gates dedicated to serving the airline’s traffic.