SeaTac Airport expects more than 150,000 travelers per day this holiday weekend

This holiday weekend, air travelers should be prepared to face delays as large amounts of people are expected to pass through SeaTac Airport.

The largest days were predicted to be Thursday and Friday, with about 155,000 to 159,000 people expected each day, according to Perry Cooper, Seattle Airport’s spokesperson.

The numbers for this weekend aren’t the largest the airport has seen. Last weekend, more than 160,000 people were recorded.

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“We are getting back closer to where we were pre pandemic, probably at about 90% of what we saw back in 2019 is where our pasture levels are right now,” Cooper said.

While the days with the most volume were expected to fall on Thursday and Friday, Sunday and Monday could see anywhere between 130,000 to 135,000 travelers in the airport.

Flyers were advised to arrive to their flights two hours prior for domestic travel and three hours for international.

“We’re also encouraging people to just be aware of their entire travel experience, even if it’s parking,” Cooper said, adding that around 1,500 parking stalls in offsite airport parking lots were lost during the pandemic due to the lack of volume and haven’t reopened.

Other ways to arrive to the airport while also reducing any delay in travel could be rideshares or the light rail.

“I’d rather be there early and get through faster than trying to time it out,” Cooper said.

One way travelers can save time when flying is by signing up for the SCA Spot Saver program available online or on the Fly SCA mobile app, Cooper said.

A space can be reserved in the general TSA line as much as 72 hours in advance and it gives travelers a 15 minute spot at the checkpoint.

He also noted that Delta pilots who are picketing are off duty and that their strike won’t be connected to canceled flights.

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