Port of Seattle Reveals Latest Design Images and Video Fly-Through for New International Arrivals Facility

SEATTLE – The Port of Seattle today released the latest images and a video for the new International Arrivals Facility (IAF) set to meet the growing, record demand of international traffic at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The multi-level 450,000 square foot facility will significantly enhance the international passenger experience, advance the Puget Sound region as a leading tourism and business gateway and serve the traveling public well into the future. The project is scheduled to break ground in early 2017 and open in late 2019.

“Our international travel continues to grow at a double-digit pace, but what welcomes international travelers to Sea-Tac is a cramped, 1970’s facility that is well beyond its planned peak capacity. The IAF project is a critical investment for the region’s economy that will create a proper welcome mat for both business and leisure travelers,” said Port of Seattle Commission President John Creighton. “The new facility will help drive the port’s Century Agenda strategy to double the number of international flights and destinations over 25 years.”

The IAF will be a new, multi-level, 450,000 square-foot facility located east of the current Concourse A. An iconic aerial walkway will span 900 linear feet across and 85 feet over the existing taxi lane to connect arriving international passengers from the south satellite across the top of concourse A to the new IAF. In addition, a secure international corridor will be built on concourse A to nearly double the number of existing international gates from 12 to 20.

The new International Arrivals Facility will increase peak passenger capacity by more than double to 2,600 passengers per hour. Currently Sea-Tac sees daily peak passenger levels averaging over 2,000 passengers per hour for a facility designed for only 1,200 per hour.

Additional benefits of the new facility will include: 

• More than double Passport Check booths and kiosks (from 30 to 80 booths)
• Increase size and number of bag claim carousels from four to seven 
• Create a single bag claim process, eliminating the need for international passengers to ride a train to baggage claim
• Create direct access from the IAF to ground transportation at airport drives or garage and 
• Reduce minimum passenger connection time from 90 to 75 minutes

Estimated Project Costs

The current budget for the IAF is $660 million. Funding for the project will come from a combination of airport generated revenues, passengers facility charges (PFC’s) and revenue bonds. As with virtually all airport projects, no Port of Seattle taxes will be used.

Visuals and Images

To view the new fly-through video and still images, and get more information on the details of the project, visit our IAF project page here. More detailed images will be released as the design/build project progresses.

Current Sea-Tac Airport International Traffic Facts

• International passenger activity requiring customs clearance at Sea-Tac has more than doubled in the past 10 years, growing 105 percent from 2005 to 2015
• Over the past ten years, Sea-Tac has gained 15 new intercontinental services including, Beijing, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Paris, Reykjavik, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.
• A consultant study estimates each new international route generates $75 million annual economic impact to the region.

Additional Details about the Existing Facility

• The bridge will be prefabricated offsite, transported to the site and installed within a seven-day time frame.
• The project will feature an elevated sterile corridor along the face of existing Concourse A from Gates A6-A14, raised nearly 32 feet above the aircraft apron level, and will include approximately 45,000 square feet of floor space.
• The project will be designed to achieve LEED® Silver Version 4 certification.
• Early construction projects will begin on September 30, 2016.

Ready for the future

The Port of Seattle is working on more than $2 billion in near-term projects planned to accommodate growth for the future including NorthSTAR, a new International Arrivals Facility, an updated baggage system and a 20-year Sustainable Airport Master Plan.

Sea-Tac Passenger Growth

For the past two years, Sea-Tac is the fastest growing large hub airport in the U.S. and is the 13thlargest domestic airport based on total passengers. Through August of 2016, traffic is up 9.1 percent, after increases of nearly 13 percent in 2015 and 7.7 percent in 2014. International traffic is up 10.1 percent.

Nearly 4.8 million passengers came through Sea-Tac in August, almost 34 percent higher than the number in August 2013 – just three years ago.

Sea-Tac has set annual passenger records for the past five years, totaling 42.3 million in 2015, and is on pace to set another record this year with a projected total over 45 million passengers.

About Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Operated by the Port of Seattle, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA, KSEA) is ranked as the 13th busiest U.S. airport, serving nearly 42.3 million passengers and more than 332,000 metric tons of air cargo in 2015. With a regional economic impact of more than $16.3 billion in business revenue, Sea-Tac generates 171,796 jobs (109,924 direct jobs) representing over $2.8 billion in direct earnings and more than $565 million in state and local taxes. Twenty-four airlines serve 83 non-stop domestic and 24 international destinations.