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Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is the primary international airport serving Seattle and its surrounding metropolitan area in the US state of Washington. It is located in the city of SeaTac, approximately 14 miles (23 km) south of downtown Seattle. The airport is ranked 8th among US airports for passenger activity and 21st for air cargo. It is home to 31 airlines serving 91 domestic and 28 international destinations. The airport features a central terminal with concourses A, B, C, and D, and two satellite terminals (N and S gates), offering a wide range of dining, shopping, and lounges. Getting to and from the airport is easy and quick, with the Link light rail taking 38 minutes to reach downtown Seattle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Seattle–Tacoma International Airport |
| IATA | SEA |
| ICAO | KSEA |
| FAA LID | SEA |
| Location | City of SeaTac, Washington |
| Distance from Seattle | 13-14 miles |
| Area | 2,500 acres |
| Number of Runways | 3 |
| Primary Hub | Alaska Airlines |
| Number of Airlines | 31 |
| Number of Destinations | 91 domestic, 28 international |
| Ranking | 8th for passenger activity, 11th busiest airport in the U.S. |
| Terminals | 1 main terminal with 6 concourses (A, B, C, D, N, S) |
| Amenities | Dining, retail, lounges, baggage services, ground transportation |
| Transportation | Link light rail, bus, rental car, shuttle |
| Travel Time to Downtown Seattle | 38 minutes |
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What You'll Learn
The airport's history and development
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA), or Sea-Tac, is the primary international airport serving Seattle and its surrounding metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Washington. The airport is located in the city of SeaTac, approximately 14 miles (23 km) south of downtown Seattle and 18 miles (29 km) north-northeast of downtown Tacoma. The airport covers an area of 2,500 acres (1,000 hectares) and has three parallel runways.
The history of Seattle–Tacoma International Airport dates back to the 1940s. The project was initially estimated to cost $1.7 million, but the sandy soil conditions drove the final construction price to over $4.2 million. The airport's plateau was formed through 6.5 million cubic yards of excavated earth. The first ceremonial landing at the airport took place on October 31, 1944, and the first commercial flights were operated by Northwest Airlines in May 1945. However, use of the airport by commercial airlines was limited due to the U.S. Army Air Force's need for the airport to stage Boeing B-29 bombers for delivery.
Over the years, the airport has undergone several expansions and renovations to accommodate increasing passenger traffic and changing security requirements. The Central Terminal building was renovated and expanded in a project that began in 1996 and underwent extensive modifications after the September 11 attacks. In 2008, a third runway was added to the airport, measuring 8,500 feet long and costing $1.1 billion. This new runway allowed for landings on both runways in times of low visibility, addressing a limitation with the previous setup where the older runways were too close together.
The airport is currently undergoing a redevelopment project to modernize and expand the facility, influenced by the growth of its international network. As of 2022, 31 airlines operate at Sea–Tac, serving 91 domestic and 28 international destinations worldwide. The airport features a central terminal with concourses A, B, C, and D, and two satellite terminals (N and S gates). It offers a range of dining, shopping, and lounge options for passengers.
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Layout and design
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA), or Sea-Tac, is located in the city of SeaTac, approximately 14 miles (23 km) south of downtown Seattle. Covering an area of 2,500 acres (1,000 hectares), it is the primary international airport serving Seattle and its surrounding metropolitan area in the US state of Washington. The airport is ranked 8th in the US for passenger activity and 21st for air cargo.
The airport features a central terminal with concourses A, B, C, and D, and two satellite terminals (north and south gates). The central terminal is located in the centre of the airport and consists of multiple levels. There are a few shops and restaurants in the central terminal outside of the secure area, with most located inside the concourses, past security. The airport's layout is in the shape of an "X", with the central terminal in the middle and the departure concourses along each of the four legs. The road system and parking lots are situated on the east side of the central terminal. Passengers must clear a security checkpoint in the central terminal before accessing the departure concourses and Satellite Transit System (STS).
The airport has 10 lounges, including the Alaska Lounge, Centurion Lounge, and Delta Sky Club. As of 2022, 31 airlines operate at Sea–Tac, serving 91 domestic and 28 international destinations across North America, Oceania, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The airport is the primary hub for Alaska Airlines and a hub and international gateway for Delta Air Lines.
The airport has three parallel runways, with the third runway opening in 2008 at a construction cost of $1.1 billion. The older runways are 800 ft (240 m) apart, too close to allow the use of both in low-visibility conditions. The third runway, measuring 8,500 ft (2,600 m) long, is parallel to the existing two and is located 2,500 ft (760 m) west of runway 34R, enabling landings on both runways during low visibility.
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Airlines and destinations
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is the primary international airport serving Seattle and its surrounding metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in the city of SeaTac, approximately 14 miles (23 km) south of downtown Seattle. The airport is ranked 8th among U.S. airports for passenger activity and 21st for air cargo. It is the busiest airport in the Pacific Northwest region of North America and is owned by the Port of Seattle.
As of 2022, 31 airlines operate at Sea–Tac, serving 91 domestic and 28 international destinations in North America, Oceania, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The airport's international network is growing, with 22 international airlines operating out of SEA. The airport's layout is an “X” shape, with the Central Terminal in the centre of the X and the departure concourses along each of the 4 legs. Between the concourses are two satellite terminals. The Central Terminal consists of multiple levels, with shops and restaurants located both outside and inside the secure area. The airport has 10 lounges, including Alaska Lounge, Centurion Lounge, and Delta Sky Club.
The airport is the primary hub for Alaska Airlines, whose headquarters are located near the airport. The airport also serves as a hub and international gateway for Delta Air Lines, which has expanded at the airport since 2011. In 2014, Delta announced plans to expand Seattle into a transpacific hub, adding numerous international and domestic flights. Other airlines that operate out of Seattle Airport include Aeromexico, Air France, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, British Airways, Condor, Emirates, Eva Air, Hawaiian Airlines, Icelandair, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Volaris.
Getting to and from the airport is convenient, with a Link light rail service connecting the airport to downtown Seattle in just 38 minutes. The Link light rail trains depart every 8-10 minutes for most of the day, and a free electric shuttle service operates between the light rail station and the airport skybridge. Passengers can also take a bus or rent a car to get to their destination.
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Transport and accessibility
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is located in the city of SeaTac, approximately 13 to 14 miles (21 to 23 km) south of downtown Seattle. It is the primary international airport serving Seattle and its surrounding metropolitan area. Getting to and from the airport is easy and convenient, with several transport options available.
The Link light rail provides a quick and economical way to travel between the airport and downtown Seattle. The journey takes approximately 38 minutes, and trains depart frequently throughout the day, with a wait time of 8 to 10 minutes between trains. From the airport, passengers can take a free electric shuttle service to the light rail station, located near the airport's parking garage.
For those travelling by bus, there are King County Metro bus routes that stop near the Link light rail station on International Boulevard. Connecting bus routes and schedules are available online. Additionally, passengers can utilise rental car services or shuttle options to get to and from the airport.
The airport is also accessible by car, with parking lots and a road system situated on the east side of the Central Terminal. The airport covers an area of 4 square miles (2,500 acres or 1,000 hectares) and has three parallel runways, accommodating both domestic and international flights.
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Amenities and services
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), or Sea-Tac, is the primary international airport serving Seattle and its surrounding metropolitan area. The airport is ranked 8th in the US for passenger activity and 21st for air cargo. It covers an area of 2,500 acres and has three parallel runways, with 31 airlines serving 91 domestic and 28 international destinations.
The Central Terminal building, located in the centre of the airport, consists of multiple levels, with ticketing on level 5. There are a few shops and restaurants in the Central Terminal outside of the secure area, with the majority located inside the concourses once passengers have passed through security. The airport has 10 lounges, including Alaska Lounge, Centurion Lounge, and Delta Sky Club. There are no Priority Pass lounges.
The airport's digital infrastructure includes a website, phone lines, a check-in system, and automated baggage sorting. It also has a conference centre and offers free electric shuttle services between the light rail station and the airport sky bridge.
The airport's website provides information on ground transportation, parking, security screening, dining, retail, and other customer services and amenities. It also provides maps of the airport, including the train terminal, ticketing, central terminal, and baggage claim. The website can be accessed via mobile devices, with step-by-step directions available to help users find their way through the airport.
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Frequently asked questions
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also known as the Sea-Tac Airport, is the primary international airport serving Seattle and its surrounding metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Washington. It is ranked 8th among U.S. airports for passenger activity and 21st for air cargo.
The airport features a central terminal with concourses A, B, C, and D and two satellite terminals (N and S gates), offering a wide range of dining, shopping, and lounges. There are 10 lounges, including the Alaska Lounge, Centurion Lounge, and Delta Sky Club.
You can take the Link light rail, which takes about 38 minutes to get to the airport from downtown Seattle. You can also take a bus, rental car, or shuttle.
