News
December 23, 2024

Holiday Travel and Construction at Sea-Tac Airport: What to Expect

Caroline Raffetto

Travelers passing through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport during the holiday season will notice more than just the usual hustle and bustle. With over 100 construction projects underway as part of a $5 billion, multiyear upgrade plan, there will be plenty of scaffolding, congestion, and long lines.

Lance Lyttle, Port of Seattle’s managing director of aviation. Sea-Tac is in the middle of a $5 billion, multiyear series of upgrades totaling 120 construction projects.   (Karen Ducey / The Seattle Times)

Sea-Tac is undergoing a massive transformation with 120 construction projects planned before the 2026 World Cup, which Seattle will host. This ambitious build-out is coinciding with the holiday rush, making it a challenge to complete upgrades while still serving millions of travelers.

Lance Lyttle, the Port of Seattle’s managing director of aviation, compared the situation to performing surgery on a marathon runner while they’re still running: “It’s a tough job, but it’s necessary for the future of the airport.”

Checkpoint 5 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport  has closed to accommodate construction. (Ellen M. Banner / The Seattle Times, File

Between now and January 2, more than 2 million people are expected to pass through the airport. January 2 is expected to be the busiest day, with an estimated 172,000 travelers arriving, departing, or connecting. However, even this day will be less crowded than a typical summer day, when around 175,000 passengers travel through Sea-Tac, according to the Port of Seattle.

One significant development is the removal of the construction walls at the Alaska Airlines entrance, which opened up 10,000 square feet of additional space for the airline. This marks the completion of the first phase of the $546 million SEA Gateway Project, funded by the Port of Seattle and Alaska Airlines. The project includes upgrades like new check-in technology, more convenient bag drop locations, and easier access to security for passengers arriving from the garage or Light Rail, explained Perry Cooper, a spokesperson for the Port of Seattle.

Ironworkers rig one of the final steel beams that bears the signatures of people who worked on the C Concourse Expansion Project during a “topping out” ceremony at Sea-Tac Airport on Thursday. Turner Construction Company and Apex Steel used a crane to put the beam in place atop the highest point. (Karen Ducey / The Seattle Times)

“This is new space created… without enlarging the terminal, which we can’t as we’re one of the smallest footprints of any airport in the country for the amount of travelers we manage,” Cooper said.

In another ongoing project, Security Checkpoint 5, which was located closest to gates D and N, closed in November to make way for further construction. Travelers will be directed to the remaining four checkpoints. In preparation for busy travel periods, the Port of Seattle has added more lanes at Checkpoints 2 and 3, ensuring that more than 90% of passengers get through security in under 30 minutes.

A new Checkpoint 1 is set to open at the south end of the baggage claim level in early 2025.

In addition, Sea-Tac celebrated a milestone in its C Concourse Expansion Project, which will add four new floors, 13 new dining and retail spots, and a 20,000-square-foot Alaska Airlines lounge. The “topping out” ceremony marked the installation of the final steel beam on the four-floor structure.

“This is a big step toward expanding the terminal and making it more efficient for travelers,” said Lyttle. The expansion will increase the C Concourse's size from 81,000 to 226,530 square feet, providing a lookout deck with views of the airfield and the Olympic Mountains.

Despite all the ongoing construction, Sea-Tac remains operational. The airport’s busiest times are before 9 a.m., from 2 to 5 p.m., and between 9 to 11 p.m. Travelers are advised to arrive two hours before domestic flights and three hours for international flights.

For easier parking, the airport is offering a 90-minute grace period from 8 p.m. to midnight in the general parking garage, providing extra time for picking up or dropping off passengers. Travelers are encouraged to enter the south end of the airport garage from International Boulevard and 182nd Street.

The airport is also working on improving roadways to enhance access to departures, arrivals, and the main garage.

In a positive development, the Port of Seattle’s digital tools, which were impacted by a cyberattack in August, were restored in late November. This includes the SEA Visitor Pass, which allows non-travelers to go past security to greet or send off passengers.

At Sea-Tac, it’s the most wonderful time of the year, especially if you appreciate major construction projects.

News
December 23, 2024

Holiday Travel and Construction at Sea-Tac Airport: What to Expect

Caroline Raffetto
Construction Industry
Alaska

Travelers passing through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport during the holiday season will notice more than just the usual hustle and bustle. With over 100 construction projects underway as part of a $5 billion, multiyear upgrade plan, there will be plenty of scaffolding, congestion, and long lines.

Lance Lyttle, Port of Seattle’s managing director of aviation. Sea-Tac is in the middle of a $5 billion, multiyear series of upgrades totaling 120 construction projects.   (Karen Ducey / The Seattle Times)

Sea-Tac is undergoing a massive transformation with 120 construction projects planned before the 2026 World Cup, which Seattle will host. This ambitious build-out is coinciding with the holiday rush, making it a challenge to complete upgrades while still serving millions of travelers.

Lance Lyttle, the Port of Seattle’s managing director of aviation, compared the situation to performing surgery on a marathon runner while they’re still running: “It’s a tough job, but it’s necessary for the future of the airport.”

Checkpoint 5 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport  has closed to accommodate construction. (Ellen M. Banner / The Seattle Times, File

Between now and January 2, more than 2 million people are expected to pass through the airport. January 2 is expected to be the busiest day, with an estimated 172,000 travelers arriving, departing, or connecting. However, even this day will be less crowded than a typical summer day, when around 175,000 passengers travel through Sea-Tac, according to the Port of Seattle.

One significant development is the removal of the construction walls at the Alaska Airlines entrance, which opened up 10,000 square feet of additional space for the airline. This marks the completion of the first phase of the $546 million SEA Gateway Project, funded by the Port of Seattle and Alaska Airlines. The project includes upgrades like new check-in technology, more convenient bag drop locations, and easier access to security for passengers arriving from the garage or Light Rail, explained Perry Cooper, a spokesperson for the Port of Seattle.

Ironworkers rig one of the final steel beams that bears the signatures of people who worked on the C Concourse Expansion Project during a “topping out” ceremony at Sea-Tac Airport on Thursday. Turner Construction Company and Apex Steel used a crane to put the beam in place atop the highest point. (Karen Ducey / The Seattle Times)

“This is new space created… without enlarging the terminal, which we can’t as we’re one of the smallest footprints of any airport in the country for the amount of travelers we manage,” Cooper said.

In another ongoing project, Security Checkpoint 5, which was located closest to gates D and N, closed in November to make way for further construction. Travelers will be directed to the remaining four checkpoints. In preparation for busy travel periods, the Port of Seattle has added more lanes at Checkpoints 2 and 3, ensuring that more than 90% of passengers get through security in under 30 minutes.

A new Checkpoint 1 is set to open at the south end of the baggage claim level in early 2025.

In addition, Sea-Tac celebrated a milestone in its C Concourse Expansion Project, which will add four new floors, 13 new dining and retail spots, and a 20,000-square-foot Alaska Airlines lounge. The “topping out” ceremony marked the installation of the final steel beam on the four-floor structure.

“This is a big step toward expanding the terminal and making it more efficient for travelers,” said Lyttle. The expansion will increase the C Concourse's size from 81,000 to 226,530 square feet, providing a lookout deck with views of the airfield and the Olympic Mountains.

Despite all the ongoing construction, Sea-Tac remains operational. The airport’s busiest times are before 9 a.m., from 2 to 5 p.m., and between 9 to 11 p.m. Travelers are advised to arrive two hours before domestic flights and three hours for international flights.

For easier parking, the airport is offering a 90-minute grace period from 8 p.m. to midnight in the general parking garage, providing extra time for picking up or dropping off passengers. Travelers are encouraged to enter the south end of the airport garage from International Boulevard and 182nd Street.

The airport is also working on improving roadways to enhance access to departures, arrivals, and the main garage.

In a positive development, the Port of Seattle’s digital tools, which were impacted by a cyberattack in August, were restored in late November. This includes the SEA Visitor Pass, which allows non-travelers to go past security to greet or send off passengers.

At Sea-Tac, it’s the most wonderful time of the year, especially if you appreciate major construction projects.