Sea-Tac Airport gears up for summer travel season

Memorial Day weekend kicks off the summer travel season during which the Port of Seattle expects to welcome a record number of travelers to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The port will use a variety of people, dogs and technology to make the travel experience comfortable for travelers.

In just seven years, Sea-Tac’s passenger totals increased by nearly 15 million – 31.5 million in 2010 – compared to 2016’s total of 45.7 million. So far in 2017, overall passenger totals are up 4 percent, including a 13 percent jump in international traffic.

The busiest travel days for Memorial Day weekend are expected to be Friday, May 26, with an anticipated 146,000 total passengers (inbound and outbound) and Thursday, May 25, with 141,000 projected passengers.

Summer highlights

• Customer service “Pathfinders” throughout airport to help make travel smooth.

• More volunteers – positioned in key locations to assist customers during peak periods.

• Special summer team of 30 high school and international college interns to help non-English speakers

• More K9s – Everyone likes dogs, right? The Port of Seattle Police added three specially trained K9s to help detect suspicious packages.

• Security wait times displayed near flight information displays in ticketing areas, so travelers can find a checkpoint with the shortest wait. Staff monitors wait times and directs travelers to the shortest lines.

• Sea-Tac’s award-winning live music program features musicians throughout airport.

• New gate area seating has been added and more to come throughout 2017.

• Wi-FI upgrades in Central Terminal and B and C Concourses.

• Improvements to parking garage walkway leading to transit connections, including electric golf cart to assist passengers with mobility issues.

Sea-Tac is a hot place to be

Sea-Tac has set annual passenger records for the past six years, totaling 45.7 million in 2016 – 3.4 million more passengers than in 2015. The 8 percent passenger growth rate is Sea-Tac’s second largest in the past 20 years, only topped by 2015’s 12.9 percent increase. International travel also increased in 2016 – 11.1 percent from 2015. For the past three years, Sea-Tac is the fastest growing large hub airport in the U.S. and is the 9th largest domestic airport based on total passengers.

Summer – Sea-Tac’s busiest time

Sea-Tac’s busiest travel period is June through August. August is typically the busiest month, followed by July and June.

Arrive Early. Travelers are encouraged to arrive a minimum of two hours before domestic and three hours for international flights – give yourself time to park, check-in and get through security. If you’re checking bags, add some extra time – always better to be early.

The busiest times at TSA checkpoints typically are between 5 and 11 a.m., while increased flights during the evening create another busy period between 7 and 9 p.m.

Peak hours can mean TSA checkpoints may be longer, please plan accordingly.

Peak travel days are Thursday and Friday.

Take Link Light Rail for an easy, predictable and sustainable ride to Sea-Tac. If picking up or dropping off, think opposite – drop off passengers in the arrival area and pick up passengers on the departures level.

More tips are available online.

Ready for the future

To accommodate more passengers and airlines, the port is investing more than $3.2 billion in capital improvement projects, including the North Satellite Modernization project, a new International Arrivals Facility and new baggage handling system. The capital improvement projects will add more gates to the airport, more than double North Satellite dining and retail establishments, and create a direct connection to the terminal and more baggage and passport services for international travelers.