Seattle–Tacoma International Airport: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 47°26′56″N 122°18′34″W / 47.44889°N 122.30944°W / 47.44889; -122.30944
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Updated some naming, as the Port of Seattle changed the "short name" of the airport to SEA Airport in early 2020
m Changed a few remaining references from Sea–Tac to SEA Airport for consistency
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===Terminal===
===Terminal===
[[File:SeaTacTerminalMain.jpg|thumb|Central terminal with views of the runways]]
[[File:SeaTacTerminalMain.jpg|thumb|Central terminal with views of the runways]]
[[File:SeaTacMtRainier.jpg|thumb|Sea–Tac terminal buildings with [[Mount Rainier]] in the distance]]
[[File:SeaTacMtRainier.jpg|thumb|SEA Airport terminal buildings with [[Mount Rainier]] in the distance]]
Seattle–Tacoma has 103 gates on four concourses and two satellite buildings.<ref name="SEAMap">{{Cite web |title=Maps - Port of Seattle |url=https://www.portseattle.org/sea-tac/maps |access-date=April 2, 2021}}</ref> 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 [[Satellite Transit System]]. The underground transit system moves passengers quickly within the four concourses of the central terminal and out to the two satellite terminals. All non-precleared international arrivals are currently handled at the South Satellite Terminal, regardless of their departure terminal.<ref name="SEAIAB">{{Cite web |title=International Arrivals and Passport Control - Port of Seattle |url=https://www.portseattle.org/services-amenities/international-arrivals-and-passport-control |access-date=April 2, 2021 |publisher=Port of Seattle}}</ref>
Seattle–Tacoma has 103 gates on four concourses and two satellite buildings.<ref name="SEAMap">{{Cite web |title=Maps - Port of Seattle |url=https://www.portseattle.org/sea-tac/maps |access-date=April 2, 2021}}</ref> 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 [[Satellite Transit System]]. The underground transit system moves passengers quickly within the four concourses of the central terminal and out to the two satellite terminals. All non-precleared international arrivals are currently handled at the South Satellite Terminal, regardless of their departure terminal.<ref name="SEAIAB">{{Cite web |title=International Arrivals and Passport Control - Port of Seattle |url=https://www.portseattle.org/services-amenities/international-arrivals-and-passport-control |access-date=April 2, 2021 |publisher=Port of Seattle}}</ref>


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===Airfield===
===Airfield===
[[File:KSEA Tower Interior.jpg|thumb|The interior of Sea–Tac's control tower, commissioned in 2004, is 850ft<sup>2</sup> (79m<sup>2</sup>). At center is a radar display; at top right is the [[Aviation light signals|light gun]].]]
[[File:KSEA Tower Interior.jpg|thumb|The interior of SEA Airport's control tower, commissioned in 2004, is 850ft<sup>2</sup> (79m<sup>2</sup>). At center is a radar display; at top right is the [[Aviation light signals|light gun]].]]
The three parallel runways run nearly north–south, west of the passenger terminal and are {{convert|8500|to(-)|11900|ft|m}} long. In 2008 the airport averaged 946 aircraft operations per day, 89% being commercial flights, 10% [[air taxi]] operations and 1% transient [[general aviation]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 20, 2012 |title=KSEA: Seattle–Tacoma International Airport |url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/KSEA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/693fLcnAs?url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/KSEA |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |access-date=August 2, 2009 |publisher=AirNav, LLC}}</ref>
The three parallel runways run nearly north–south, west of the passenger terminal and are {{convert|8500|to(-)|11900|ft|m}} long. In 2008 the airport averaged 946 aircraft operations per day, 89% being commercial flights, 10% [[air taxi]] operations and 1% transient [[general aviation]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 20, 2012 |title=KSEA: Seattle–Tacoma International Airport |url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/KSEA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/693fLcnAs?url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/KSEA |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |access-date=August 2, 2009 |publisher=AirNav, LLC}}</ref>


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===Ground transportation===
===Ground transportation===
[[File:Airport-bound Link train at Westlake Station (2010).jpg|thumb|right|An airport-bound [[Link light rail]] train in the [[Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel]]]]
[[File:Airport-bound Link train at Westlake Station (2010).jpg|thumb|right|An airport-bound [[Link light rail]] train in the [[Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel]]]]
The site of Sea–Tac was chosen partly due to its location along [[Washington State Route 99|State Route 99]], approximately midway between Seattle and Tacoma. [[Interstate 5 in Washington|Interstate 5]] and [[Interstate 405 (Washington)|Interstate 405]] also converge near the airport, with an easy connection to the airport via [[Washington State Route 518|State Route 518]] and the Airport Expressway. [[Washington State Route 509|State Route 509]] runs to the west of the airport, connecting the area to West Seattle. The airport is the largest generator of vehicle trips in the state.<ref name="vehicletraffic">{{Cite web |title=SR 509: Corridor Completion/I-5/South Access Road Final Environmental Impact Statement |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/1AC95DE6-F6CB-4D7B-B1D9-7A99B7D33FE2/0/chapter_1.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624013820/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/1AC95DE6-F6CB-4D7B-B1D9-7A99B7D33FE2/0/chapter_1.pdf |archive-date=June 24, 2013 |access-date=May 4, 2013 |publisher=[[WSDOT]]}}</ref>
The site of SEA Airport was chosen partly due to its location along [[Washington State Route 99|State Route 99]], approximately midway between Seattle and Tacoma. [[Interstate 5 in Washington|Interstate 5]] and [[Interstate 405 (Washington)|Interstate 405]] also converge near the airport, with an easy connection to the airport via [[Washington State Route 518|State Route 518]] and the Airport Expressway. [[Washington State Route 509|State Route 509]] runs to the west of the airport, connecting the area to West Seattle. The airport is the largest generator of vehicle trips in the state.<ref name="vehicletraffic">{{Cite web |title=SR 509: Corridor Completion/I-5/South Access Road Final Environmental Impact Statement |url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/1AC95DE6-F6CB-4D7B-B1D9-7A99B7D33FE2/0/chapter_1.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624013820/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/1AC95DE6-F6CB-4D7B-B1D9-7A99B7D33FE2/0/chapter_1.pdf |archive-date=June 24, 2013 |access-date=May 4, 2013 |publisher=[[WSDOT]]}}</ref>


The Port of Seattle offers paid on-site parking in a 13,000-space garage, notable for being North America's largest parking structure under one roof.<ref name="parkinggarage">{{Cite web |title=Airport Parking Garage |url=http://www.portseattle100.org/properties/parking-garage |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729051558/http://www.portseattle100.org/properties/parking-garage |archive-date=July 29, 2014 |access-date=January 1, 2016 |publisher=[[Port of Seattle]]}}</ref> Numerous privately owned parking facilities are located off-site near the airport.
The Port of Seattle offers paid on-site parking in a 13,000-space garage, notable for being North America's largest parking structure under one roof.<ref name="parkinggarage">{{Cite web |title=Airport Parking Garage |url=http://www.portseattle100.org/properties/parking-garage |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729051558/http://www.portseattle100.org/properties/parking-garage |archive-date=July 29, 2014 |access-date=January 1, 2016 |publisher=[[Port of Seattle]]}}</ref> Numerous privately owned parking facilities are located off-site near the airport.
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*November 30, 1947: [[Alaska Airlines]] Flight 9, a [[Douglas C-54]]A en route to [[Seattle]] from [[Anchorage, Alaska]], landed in heavy fog and damp conditions after failed attempts at nearby [[Boeing Field]] and [[Paine Field]] in [[Everett, Washington|Everett]]. Shortly before 2:30&nbsp;p.m. on Sunday, the plane touched down {{convert|2748|ft|abbr=on}} beyond the approach area to runway 20 and sped onto a nearby road, colliding with an automobile and bursting into flames. Nine fatalities resulted from the accident, including a blind woman riding in the&nbsp;car.<ref name="tk24h">{{Cite news |date=December 1, 1947 |title=2 killed, 24 hurt, 2 missing in Seattle air liner crash |page=1 |work=Spokesman-Review |agency=Associated Press |location=(Spokane, Washington) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0HxWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lOUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6317%2C150023}}</ref><ref name="aalpos">{{Cite news |date=December 2, 1947 |title=Alaska air line is put on spot |page=2 |work=Spokesman-Review |agency=Associated Press |location=(Spokane, Washington) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0XxWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lOUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6746%2C241907}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Stories Behind the Stones |url=http://www.cemeteryguide.com/gotw-rebamonk.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322024324/http://www.cemeteryguide.com/gotw-rebamonk.html |archive-date=March 22, 2012 |access-date=July 3, 2012 |website=Grave Spotlight}}</ref>
*November 30, 1947: [[Alaska Airlines]] Flight 9, a [[Douglas C-54]]A en route to [[Seattle]] from [[Anchorage, Alaska]], landed in heavy fog and damp conditions after failed attempts at nearby [[Boeing Field]] and [[Paine Field]] in [[Everett, Washington|Everett]]. Shortly before 2:30&nbsp;p.m. on Sunday, the plane touched down {{convert|2748|ft|abbr=on}} beyond the approach area to runway 20 and sped onto a nearby road, colliding with an automobile and bursting into flames. Nine fatalities resulted from the accident, including a blind woman riding in the&nbsp;car.<ref name="tk24h">{{Cite news |date=December 1, 1947 |title=2 killed, 24 hurt, 2 missing in Seattle air liner crash |page=1 |work=Spokesman-Review |agency=Associated Press |location=(Spokane, Washington) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0HxWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lOUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6317%2C150023}}</ref><ref name="aalpos">{{Cite news |date=December 2, 1947 |title=Alaska air line is put on spot |page=2 |work=Spokesman-Review |agency=Associated Press |location=(Spokane, Washington) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0XxWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lOUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6746%2C241907}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Stories Behind the Stones |url=http://www.cemeteryguide.com/gotw-rebamonk.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322024324/http://www.cemeteryguide.com/gotw-rebamonk.html |archive-date=March 22, 2012 |access-date=July 3, 2012 |website=Grave Spotlight}}</ref>
*April 2, 1956: [[Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2]], a [[Boeing Stratocruiser|Boeing 377 Stratocruiser]] headed to [[Portland International Airport]] in [[Portland, Oregon|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.<ref name="seddof">{{Cite news |date=April 2, 1956 |title=Plane carrying 37 crashes into Puget Sound; 4 dead |page=1 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |location=(Washington) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a_tXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xvYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1696%2C15160}}</ref><ref name="ththsfe">{{Cite news |date=April 3, 1956 |title=Thirty-three safe as plane crashes in Puget Soune |page=1 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |agency=Associated Press |location=(Idaho) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XcheAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TTIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1505%2C3676400}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Black |first=Bruce R. |date=March 29, 2006 |title=Plane Crashed Near Des Moines Fifty Years Ago |work=[[Ballard News-Tribune]] |url=http://www.ballardnewstribune.com/2006/03/29/news/plane-crashed-near-des-moines-fifty-years-ago |url-status=live |access-date=July 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511212939/http://www.ballardnewstribune.com/2006/03/29/news/plane-crashed-near-des-moines-fifty-years-ago |archive-date=May 11, 2013}}</ref>
*April 2, 1956: [[Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2]], a [[Boeing Stratocruiser|Boeing 377 Stratocruiser]] headed to [[Portland International Airport]] in [[Portland, Oregon|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.<ref name="seddof">{{Cite news |date=April 2, 1956 |title=Plane carrying 37 crashes into Puget Sound; 4 dead |page=1 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |location=(Washington) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a_tXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xvYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1696%2C15160}}</ref><ref name="ththsfe">{{Cite news |date=April 3, 1956 |title=Thirty-three safe as plane crashes in Puget Soune |page=1 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |agency=Associated Press |location=(Idaho) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XcheAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TTIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1505%2C3676400}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Black |first=Bruce R. |date=March 29, 2006 |title=Plane Crashed Near Des Moines Fifty Years Ago |work=[[Ballard News-Tribune]] |url=http://www.ballardnewstribune.com/2006/03/29/news/plane-crashed-near-des-moines-fifty-years-ago |url-status=live |access-date=July 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511212939/http://www.ballardnewstribune.com/2006/03/29/news/plane-crashed-near-des-moines-fifty-years-ago |archive-date=May 11, 2013}}</ref>
*November 24, 1971: [[Northwest Airlines]] Flight 305, a [[Boeing 727]] flying to Sea–Tac 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 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.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=December 6, 1971 |title=CRIME: The Bandit Who Went Out into the Cold |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time Magazine]] |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,877495,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=July 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704223804/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,877495,00.html |archive-date=July 4, 2012}}</ref> To this day, neither Cooper nor most of the $200,000 have been found.
*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 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.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=December 6, 1971 |title=CRIME: The Bandit Who Went Out into the Cold |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time Magazine]] |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,877495,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=July 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704223804/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,877495,00.html |archive-date=July 4, 2012}}</ref> 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, Washington|Oak Harbor]] crashed 1&nbsp;km north of Sea-Tac in snowy weather conditions into [[Riverton, Washington|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.<ref>{{ASN accident|id = 19741226-1|title = N66HA|accessdate = April 11, 2019}}</ref>
*December 26, 1974: [[Harbor Airlines]] Flight 308, a [[Britten Norman Islander]] bound for [[Oak Harbor, Washington|Oak Harbor]] crashed 1&nbsp;km north of SEA Airport in snowy weather conditions into [[Riverton, Washington|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.<ref>{{ASN accident|id = 19741226-1|title = N66HA|accessdate = April 11, 2019}}</ref>
*January 20, 1983: [[Northwest Airlines]] Flight 608, a [[Boeing 727]] flying from Sea–Tac 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.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19830120-0|type=Hijacking}}</ref>
*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.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19830120-0|type=Hijacking}}</ref>
*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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 16, 1988 |title=18 Injured in Seattle Plane Crash |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/16/us/18-injured-in-seattle-plane-crash.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108131325/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/16/us/18-injured-in-seattle-plane-crash.html |archive-date=November 8, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 6, 1989 |title=Aircraft Accident Report—Horizon Air, Inc., deHavilland DHC-8, Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, Washington, April 15, 1988 |url=http://www.airdisaster.com/reports/ntsb/AAR89-02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018161816/http://www.airdisaster.com/reports/ntsb/AAR89-02.pdf |archive-date=October 18, 2011 |access-date=March 2, 2012 |url-status=usurped |website=National Transportation Safety Board}}</ref>
*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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 16, 1988 |title=18 Injured in Seattle Plane Crash |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/16/us/18-injured-in-seattle-plane-crash.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108131325/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/16/us/18-injured-in-seattle-plane-crash.html |archive-date=November 8, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 6, 1989 |title=Aircraft Accident Report—Horizon Air, Inc., deHavilland DHC-8, Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, Washington, April 15, 1988 |url=http://www.airdisaster.com/reports/ntsb/AAR89-02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018161816/http://www.airdisaster.com/reports/ntsb/AAR89-02.pdf |archive-date=October 18, 2011 |access-date=March 2, 2012 |url-status=usurped |website=National Transportation Safety Board}}</ref>
*[[2018 Horizon Air Q400 incident|August 10, 2018]]: An empty [[Horizon Air]] [[Bombardier Q400]] was stolen and ultimately crashed on [[Ketron Island, Washington|Ketron Island]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 10, 2018 |title=Turboprop stolen from Sea-Tac has crashed on Ketron Island in Pierce County |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article216505205.html#storylink=latest_side |url-status=live |access-date=August 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811100133/https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article216505205.html#storylink=latest_side |archive-date=August 11, 2018}}</ref>
*[[2018 Horizon Air Q400 incident|August 10, 2018]]: An empty [[Horizon Air]] [[Bombardier Q400]] was stolen and ultimately crashed on [[Ketron Island, Washington|Ketron Island]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 10, 2018 |title=Turboprop stolen from Sea-Tac has crashed on Ketron Island in Pierce County |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article216505205.html#storylink=latest_side |url-status=live |access-date=August 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811100133/https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article216505205.html#storylink=latest_side |archive-date=August 11, 2018}}</ref>

Revision as of 21:40, 21 March 2022

"Seattle Airport" and "SeaTac" redirect here. For the other airport in the city, see Boeing Field. For the city, see SeaTac, Washington. For other uses, see SeaTac (disambiguation).

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport
SEA Airport in August 2012, looking north
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorPort of Seattle
ServesSeattle metropolitan area
LocationSeaTac, Washington, U.S.
Opened1944; 80 years ago (1944)
Hub for
Elevation AMSL433 ft / 132 m
Coordinates47°26′56″N 122°18′34″W / 47.44889°N 122.30944°W / 47.44889; -122.30944
Websiteflysea.org
Maps
FAA diagram
FAA diagram
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
16L/34R 11,901 3,627 Concrete
16C/34C 9,426 2,873 Concrete
16R/34L 8,500 2,591 Concrete
Statistics (2021)
Passengers36,154,015
Aircraft movements374,510
Air cargo (metric tons)498,741
Sources: FAA[1] and airport website[2]

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (IATA: SEA, ICAO: KSEA, FAA LID: SEA), branded as SEA Airport and also referred to as Sea–Tac (/ˈsiːtæk/), is the primary commercial airport serving the Seattle metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Washington. It is in the city of SeaTac, approximately 14 miles (23 km) south of Downtown Seattle and 18 miles (29 km) north-northeast of Downtown Tacoma.[3] The airport, the largest in the Pacific Northwest region of North America, is situated between Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, British Columbia, and owned by the Port of Seattle.

The entire airport covers an area of 2,500 acres or 3.9 square miles (10 km2),[1] much smaller than other U.S. airports with similar annual passenger numbers.[4] The airport has flights to cities throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. It is the primary hub for Alaska Airlines, whose headquarters are near the airport.[5] It is also a hub and international gateway for Delta Air Lines, which has expanded at the airport since 2011. Thirty-four airlines serve 91 non-stop domestic and 28 international destinations.[citation needed]

History

The airport was built by the Port of Seattle in 1944 after the U.S. military took control of Boeing Field in World War II. The Port received $1 million from the Civil Aeronautics Administration to build the airport and $100,000 from the City of Tacoma. The first scheduled airline flights were Northwest and Trans-Canada in 1947; Western and United moved from Boeing Field in the next couple of years, and Pan Am moved in 1952–53, but West Coast and successors Air West and Hughes Airwest stayed at Boeing Field until 1971. The original terminal was designed by architect Herman A. Moldenhour. The official opening ceremony took place on July 9, 1947, in front of a crowd of 30,000.[6]

In June 1951 four runways were at 45-degree angles, between 5,000 and 6,100 feet (1,500 and 1,900 m) long; the northeast–southwest and northwest–southeast runways intersected just west of the north–south runway that eventually became today's runway 34R. Runway 34 was lengthened to 7500 ft in 1951, to 8500 ft by 1958, and to 11900 ft by 1962. The extension required the construction of an automobile tunnel for South 188th Street, which opened in July 1961.[7] Runway 34L replaced runway 2 around 1970.

The April 1957 OAG shows 216 departures a week on United, 80 Northwest, 35 Western, 21 Trans-Canada, 20 Pan Am, 20 Pacific Northern and 10 Alaska. The first jet flights were Pan Am Boeing 707s to Honolulu via Portland (OR) in late 1959 (Pan Am's timetable for September 27 shows a weekly jet). In 1966 Scandinavian Airlines began the airport's first non-stop flight to mainland Europe (Pan Am nonstops to London began around 1961). The first concourse opened in July 1959.

The two-story North Concourse (later dubbed Concourse D) added four gate positions and a new wing 600 feet (180 m) long and 30 feet (9.1 m) wide.[8] The one-story South Concourse (now Concourse A) opened in 1961, adding another 688 feet (210 m) to the length of the airport.[8] 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.[8] Concourse C opened in July 1966.[8] Just four years later, it was extended to include another 10 gates, bringing the total to 35.[8] The Port embarked on a major expansion plan, designed by The Richardson Associates[9] 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; the new terminal quadrupled the area for public use.[8] On July 1, 1973, the Airport opened two new satellite terminals, along with an underground train system to connect them to the Main Terminal.[10] In the mid-1980s, the Main Terminal was renovated and another 150 feet (46 m) was added to the north end.[8] Concourse D was expanded in 1987 with a rotunda that added four new gates.[8] 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.[11] 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.[8]

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.[12]

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)

After the death of U.S. Senator Henry Martin "Scoop" Jackson in 1983, the Seattle Port Commission voted to change the airport's name to the Henry M. Jackson International Airport. Citizens of Tacoma interpreted the change as an insult to their community—the second time in the airport's history that the port authorities had attempted to remove "Tacoma" from the name. The $100,000 Tacoma had provided for the airport's construction during World War II had come with an explicit promise that the city would be included in the airport's name. An additional complicating factor was the existence of another Jackson International Airport (now Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport) in Jackson, Mississippi, whose management threatened legal action to preserve its exclusive use of the name. The controversy was resolved after polls of Seattle and Tacoma area residents showed their preference for the original name by margins as much as 5:1. Helen Jackson, the widow of the late Senator Henry M. Jackson, expressed her desire that their family remain neutral in the debate. With a 3–2 vote of the Port of Seattle Commission, the name reverted to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in early 1984.[13]

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. 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, 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. Runway opponents appealed these permits, but dropped their challenges in 2004.

Recent years

The airport's Central Terminal building was renovated and expanded in 2003 in a project designed by Curtis W. Fentress, of Fentress Architects.

The third runway opened on November 20, 2008, with a construction cost of $1.1 billion. Parallel to the existing two, the new runway is 2500 ft west of runway 34R, allowing landings on both in times of low visibility. The older runways are 800 ft apart, too close to allow use of both in low visibility.[14]

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.[15]

In late 2021, shortly after Alaska Airlines joined American Airlines in the Oneworld alliance, American began establishing a hub at the airport to serve destinations in the Asia Pacific region.[16][17]

Future

SEA Airport has seen record growth in passenger traffic over the last few years. That 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.[18]

SEA 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. This $320.4 million project will create one unified, high-speed baggage system under the airport.[19] 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 will be in place by 2023.[20]

The North Satellite Terminal has only received limited upgrades since it was opened in 1973 and is in need of modernization.[21] The Port of Seattle initially looked at simply updating the terminal in a project it called the North Satellite Renovation Plan (NorthSTAR). In 2016 it was announced the Port would also significantly expand the terminal. The $550 million project now called the North Satellite Modernization will increase the size of the North Satellite by 201,000 square feet[19] 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, scheduled to be complete by 2021, will modernize the remaining areas of the old terminal and expand dining and retail space around the twenty existing gates. The new terminal was opened on June 29, 2021.[22][20]

The existing customs and immigration facility is located in the basement of the South Satellite, and operates well over its design capacity. Additionally, the process for passengers is complicated by the terminal's isolated location.[23] To address the situation, the Port of Seattle is building a new 450,000-square-foot International Arrivals Facility (IAF) east of Concourse A. The new IAF will be connected to the south satellite by a 900-foot-long bridge (aerial walkway) that will take passengers 85 feet above the existing airplane taxiway and over the top of Concourse A. The project was initially expected to be completed by 2021 at a cost of $766 million.[24][25] In late 2018, the cost was re-calculated to $968 million.[26]

After the new IAF opens, the South Satellite will continue to be used for arriving international flights; additional international gates will be added in Concourse A, nearly doubling the number of gates capable of serving arriving international passengers. Once the new International Arrivals Facility is complete, the Port of Seattle will renovate the South Satellite Terminal.[19]

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.[27]

Facilities

Terminal

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

Seattle–Tacoma has 103 gates on four concourses and two satellite buildings.[28] 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 Satellite Transit System. The underground transit system moves passengers quickly within the four concourses of the central terminal and out to the two satellite terminals. All non-precleared international arrivals are currently handled at the South Satellite Terminal, regardless of their departure terminal.[29]

  • Concourse A contains 16 gates.[28]
  • Concourse B contains 17 gates.[28]
  • Concourse C contains 27 gates.[28]
  • Concourse D contains 17 gates.[28]
  • North Satellite contains 20 gates.[28]
  • South Satellite contains 14 gates.[28]

Airfield

The interior of SEA Airport's control tower, commissioned in 2004, is 850ft2 (79m2). At center is a radar display; at 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. In 2008 the airport averaged 946 aircraft operations per day, 89% being commercial flights, 10% air taxi operations and 1% transient general aviation.[30]

A new control tower was built beginning in 2001 and opened November 2004, at a cost of $26 million.[31] 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 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 Nisqually earthquake in 2001.

A recurring problem at the airport is misidentification of the westernmost taxiway, Taxiway Tango, as a runway. A large "X" has been placed at the north end of the taxiway, but a number of aircraft have landed on the taxiway.[32] 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 airport 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 designed to decrease potentially fatal incidents involving collisions with birds and to provide a test bed for 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.[33]

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.[34]

Ground transportation

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

The site of SEA Airport 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 to the west of the airport, connecting the area to West Seattle. The airport is the largest generator of vehicle trips in the state.[35]

The Port of Seattle offers paid on-site parking in a 13,000-space garage, notable for being North America's largest parking structure under one roof.[36] Numerous privately owned parking facilities are located off-site near the airport.

The airport is served by Line 1 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.[37] 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 extension of the Link line 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, while 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.[38]

The airport is served by 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.[39]

Taxis, limousines, and transportation network companies (Lyft, Uber and Wingz) are also available.[40]

A 23-acre (9.3 ha) consolidated rental car facility opened on May 17, 2012.[41][42] 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[43] and can handle up to 14,000 transactions per day.[43] After the opening of the facility, 3,200 parking spaces in the central parking structure opened for general use.[44] Passengers reach the facility on a five-minute trip aboard one of 29 low-floor Gillig CNG buses.[43] 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. Payless Car Rental now has a presence. Customers of Rent-a-Wreck must ride the shuttle to the facility and then board one of the company's shuttles to Rent-a-Wreck's office.[43]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Aer Lingus Dublin (resumes May 26, 2022)[45] [46]
Aeroméxico Mexico City [47]
Air Canada Montréal–Trudeau (begins May 31, 2022), Toronto–Pearson [48]
Air Canada Express Vancouver [48]
Air France Paris–Charles de Gaulle [49]
Alaska Airlines Albuquerque, Anchorage, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Bellingham, Billings, Boise, Boston, Bozeman, Burbank, Calgary, Cancún, Charleston (SC), Chicago–O'Hare, Cincinnati, Cleveland (begins June 16, 2022),[50] 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, Kailua–Kona, Kansas City, Kelowna, Ketchikan, Las Vegas, Lihue, Los Angeles, Medford, Miami (resumes June 16, 2022),[51] 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, Sitka, Spokane, Sun Valley, Tampa, Tri-Cities (WA), Tucson, Vancouver, Victoria, Walla Walla, Washington–Dulles, Washington–National, Wenatchee, Wichita, Yakima
Seasonal: Belize City, Hayden/Steamboat Springs		 [52]
All Nippon Airways Tokyo–Haneda, Tokyo–Narita [53]
American Airlines Bangalore (begins October 29, 2022),[54] Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, London–Heathrow, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, Phoenix–Sky Harbor [55]
American Eagle Los Angeles
Asiana Airlines Seoul–Incheon [56]
British Airways London–Heathrow [57]
Condor Frankfurt [58]
Delta Air Lines Amsterdam, Anchorage, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Beijing–Daxing (begins November 13, 2022),[59] Boston, Cancún, Chicago–O'Hare, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Fairbanks, Honolulu, Kahului, Kailua–Kona, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Lihue, London–Heathrow, Los Angeles, 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, Tampa, Tokyo–Haneda, Tucson, Washington–Dulles
Seasonal: Juneau, Palm Springs		 [60]
Delta Connection Boise, Denver, Eugene, Medford, Ontario, Portland (OR), Redmond/Bend, Sacramento, San Jose (CA), Spokane, Tri-Cities (WA), Vancouver
Seasonal: Ketchikan, Sitka 		[60]
Emirates Dubai–International [61]
EVA Air Taipei–Taoyuan [62]
Finnair Seasonal: Helsinki (resumes June 1, 2022)[63] [64]
Frontier Airlines Denver, Las Vegas [65]
Hainan Airlines Beijing–Capital, Shanghai–Pudong [66]
Hawaiian Airlines Honolulu, Kahului [67]
Icelandair Reykjavík–Keflavík [68]
Japan Airlines Tokyo–Narita [69]
JetBlue Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles (resumes May 4, 2022), New York–JFK
Seasonal: Newark		 [70]
Korean Air Seoul–Incheon [71]
Lufthansa Frankfurt [72]
Qatar Airways Doha [73]
Singapore Airlines Singapore [74]
Southwest Airlines Chicago–Midway, Denver, Las Vegas, Nashville, Oakland, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Sacramento, San Jose (CA)
Seasonal: Dallas–Love, Kansas City (resumes June 11, 2022), St. Louis 		[75]
Spirit Airlines Las Vegas [76]
Sun Country Airlines Minneapolis/St. Paul [77]
United Airlines Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Houston–Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, Washington–Dulles [78]
United Express Los Angeles
Seasonal: San Francisco, Denver 		[78]
Virgin Atlantic London–Heathrow [79]
Volaris Guadalajara [80]
WestJet Encore Calgary [81]

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
AeroLogic Frankfurt
Amazon Air Allentown/Bethlehem, Anchorage, Cincinnati, Hartford/Springfield, New York–JFK, Ontario, San Bernardino
Ameriflight Spokane
Alaska Air Cargo Anchorage, Cordova, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Yakutat
Asiana Cargo Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Seoul–Incheon
Cargolux Calgary, Los Angeles, Luxembourg, Glasgow–Prestwick
China Airlines Cargo Anchorage, Chicago–O'Hare, Columbus–Rickenbacker, Miami, New York–JFK, Taipei–Taoyuan
China Cargo Airlines Shanghai–Pudong
DHL Aviation Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Seoul–Incheon, Vancouver
EVA Air Cargo Anchorage, Dallas/Fort Worth, Taipei–Taoyuan
FedEx Express Anchorage, Dallas/Fort Worth, Fort Worth/Alliance, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Memphis, Oakland, Ontario, Portland (OR)
FedEx Feeder Bellingham, Burlington, Friday Harbor, Orcas Island, Port Angeles
Kalitta Air Los Angeles, Vancouver
Korean Air Cargo Chicago–O'Hare, Los Angeles, Seoul–Incheon
Lufthansa Cargo Frankfurt
Singapore Airlines Cargo Anchorage, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Singapore

Statistics

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from SEA (January 2021 – December 2021)[82]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona 828,000 Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest
2 Anchorage, Alaska 817,000 Alaska, Delta
3 Las Vegas, Nevada 797,000 Alaska, Delta, Southwest, Spirit
4 Los Angeles, California 731,000 Alaska, American, Delta, United
5 Denver, Colorado 717,000 Alaska, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, United
6 Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 602,000 Alaska, American, Delta, Spirit, United
7 Portland, Oregon 530,000 Alaska, Delta
8 Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 488,000 Alaska, American
9 San Diego, California 480,000 Alaska, Delta
10 San Francisco, California 475,000 Alaska, Delta, United
Busiest international routes to and from SEA (2020)[83]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Vancouver, Canada 632,650 Air Canada, Alaska, Delta
2 Seoul–Incheon, South Korea 424,015 Asiana Airlines, Delta, Korean Air
3 London–Heathrow, United Kingdom 383,187 American, British Airways, Delta, Virgin Atlantic
4 Frankfurt, Germany 285,612 Condor, Lufthansa
5 Dubai–International, United Arab Emirates 274,531 Emirates
6 Beijing–Capital, China 270,322 Hainan
7 Amsterdam, Netherlands 262,828 Delta
8 Taipei–Taoyuan, Taiwan 261,181 EVA Air
9 Tokyo–Narita, Japan 257,188 Japan Airlines
10 Victoria, Canada 245,203 Alaska

Airline market share

Top airlines at SEA (October 2020 - September 2021)[84]
Rank Airline Passengers Percent of market share
1 Alaska Airlines 12,958,792 46.12%
2 Delta Air Lines 4,847,210 17.25%
3 American Airlines 3,113,370 11.15%
4 SkyWest 2,024,142 7.2%
5 Southwest Airlines 1,555,000 5.54%

Annual traffic

Annual passenger traffic at SEA airport. See Wikidata query.

Accidents and incidents

  • November 30, 1947: Alaska Airlines Flight 9, a Douglas C-54A en route to Seattle from Anchorage, Alaska, landed in heavy fog and damp conditions after 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 an automobile and bursting into flames. Nine fatalities resulted from the accident, including a blind woman riding in the car.[85][86][87]
  • 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.[88][89][90]
  • 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 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.[91] 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 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.[92]
  • 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.[93]
  • 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.[94][95]
  • August 10, 2018: An empty Horizon Air Bombardier Q400 was stolen and ultimately crashed on Ketron Island.[96]

References

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External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
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