Sea-Tac Airport doubles international arrival capacity with new terminal
Mar 4, 2022, 11:55 AM
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport unveiled its new, $1 billion International Arrivals facility on Thursday.
The former customs facility — more than 50 years old — is underground, windowless, and so small that planes sometimes have to wait because there is no room for the disembarking passengers.
In contrast, the new building has large windows letting in sunlight, colorful sculptures from local artists, and a skybridge over the taxiway that lets people watch planes taxi underneath them. From the new terminal, the downtown Seattle skyline and Mount Baker are visible to the north, and Mount Rainier to the south.
“We needed to improve the customer experience to make travel less stressful and more predictable,” wrote Lance Lyttle, managing director of SEA Airport, in a news release. “This is your first impression of our region and airport. Everything from the views out the window to the simplicity of getting on your way should put you at ease.”
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The new terminal will be able to more than double the number of passengers who come through per hour — from 1,200 to 2,600. Gone are the days when planes will have to sit waiting because there is no room. Plus, with more baggage claim carousels and customs desks, the travel time through the terminal will be, on average, 15 minutes shorter.
“Everything about this new facility — from its design to its artwork to its vistas, and even the way passengers move through the building — demonstrates our region’s most enduring values, and reinforces our commitment to being the best connected, most convenient, sustainable, and welcoming airport in the world,” said Ryan Calkins, Port of Seattle commission president.
The expansion of the international arrivals facility represents a shift in Seattle becoming a more attractive option for airlines as a major global hub.
“Seattle is being seen more as a big player to all these airlines because of how fast we’re growing, and how the businesses are growing, we’ve actually jumped ahead of other larger cities in the U.S. for some of these services,” Calkins told KIRO Newsradio’s Nicole Jennings.
