Sea-Tac Customer Service Rated Best in North America

Date: April 10, 2013
Contact: Perry Cooper 206-787-4923
cooper.p@portseattle.

(Seattle – April 10, 2013) – Customer service at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is recognized world-wide as the best in North America!

Today Sea-Tac Airport was named Best Airport Staff Service in North America by the 2013 Skytrax World Airport Awards, held at the Passenger Terminal EXPO in Geneva.

The awards are based on 12.1 million airline passenger surveys including 395 airports worldwide that evaluate 39 airport service and product performance indicators. The World Airport Awards are the global benchmark of airport excellence and known in the travel industry as the Passenger's Choice Awards.

Sea-Tac was also recognized at #10 for World’s Best Airport Staff and #9 for World’s Best Airport by Passenger numbers (30-40 million passengers per year).

"This is a fantastic achievement with survey respondents being particularly complimentary of the overall friendliness of the airport staff, whether at immigration, security or the various concessions around Sea-Tac Airport," said Edward Plaisted, Chairman of Skytrax. "Aside from the product facilities an airport provides to customers, it is the Quality of staff service that has the greatest impact on the overall travel experience, and all front-line staff at Sea-Tac Airport should be proud of this traveler recognition bestowed upon them"

“We are tremendously honored to receive this award on behalf of Port of Seattle staff and all of the staff from our partners with the airlines, tenants, and other agencies at Sea-Tac Airport,” said Mark Reis, Managing Director of Sea-Tac Airport. “This stretches to every aspect of airport service including ticket agents, bag handlers, police and fire response, facility maintenance, customer service, planning, operations, food service, retail, and everything in between. We have up to 15,000 employees throughout the airport, and every one of them should be proud of their efforts.”

Operated since 1999, the annual airport customer survey is respected for clarity and independence, having no airport influence or bias. For more information, see the awards website.

Under Best Airport Staff Service for North America category, Vancouver International Airport finished in 2nd place followed by Toronto Pearson International Airport, Denver International Airport and San Francisco International.

Sea-Tac Airport set a record for total passengers in 2012 with over 33.2 million -- an increase of nearly 400,000 passengers or 1.2 percent. International passengers increased by more than 263,000 to 3,248,069 or 8.8 percent. Sea-Tac is currently ranked as the 15th largest airport in the U.S. and 40th in the world by passenger volume.

About World Airport Award
The World Airport Awards (http://www.worldairportawards.com) are managed by the air transport rating organisation, Skytrax Research of London, UK.  The Airport Survey has operated since 1999, and the 2013 Awards are based on 12.1 million airline passenger nominations, and include 395 airports worldwide. The survey evaluates 39 airport Service and Product key performance indicators -- from check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration through to departure at the gate. 

About Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Operated by the Port of Seattle, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA, KSEA) is ranked as the 15th largest U.S. airport, serving more than 33.2 million passengers in 2012. With a regional economic impact of more than $13.2 billion in business revenue, Sea-Tac generates more than 138,000 jobs (89,902 direct jobs) representing more than $2.2 billion in direct earnings and $412.4 million in state and local taxes. Twenty-three airlines serve 72 non-stop domestic and 19 international destinations.

The Port of Seattle is setting the course for the future with the Century Agenda.  In 25 years, we will generate 100,000 new jobs and increase international trade and tourism, while protecting the environment with innovative sustainability initiatives.  Learn more about how the region’s economic engine will keep powering King County’s economy for years to come!

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