Seattle-Tacoma expecting to handle over 2 million passengers through new year's

Thursday and Friday this week are expected to be Seattle-Tacoma International Airport 's (SEA) busiest travel days this holiday season.

The airport expects to serve 164,000 passengers on Thursday and another 172,000 on Friday.

The airport’s management expects December 20th to be the busiest day during this Christmas season, with the airport expecting to serve 172,000 passengers.

Thursday the 19th will be the second busiest day, with 164,000 passengers expected. This puts the total number of passengers over two days to close 336,000 passengers.

If the numbers remain steady, the airport is expecting to handle over two million passengers during this holiday season through New Year's Day .

Speaking to KING 5 News, travelers spoke about the holiday travel rush. Christian Murdock spoke about his plans for traveling out of SEA and what to expect:

“I always try and get there really early just because I'd rather be on the other side and do work and, you know, catch up on things without the stress. It was a little crowded or congested coming into the terminal.”

With the influx of passengers, the airport is dealing with overcrowding and congestion issues, namely at the entrance to the airport and the road leading into the terminal.

Unfortunately, despite the clearly marked signage, many people choose to idle and hang around the road, waiting to pick up passengers. It’s the main reason for congestion.

According to Perry Cooper, a spokesperson for SEA, the airport has been combating this by attempting to block the areas that they control:

“So, we have been putting up blockage in our space where we can do that, and we've been trying to work with the state patrol, they have their own rules for what state highways can do, so we’re hoping to have some additional solutions there.”

The airport has no control over the state-owned property but is working with the state on parking enforcement and is looking into increasing the fine for rulebreakers from the current amount of $55, as it doesn’t seem to deter them.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), also known as Sea-Tac, is the primary international airport serving the greater Seattle metropolitan area.

The airport opened 80 years ago on October 31st, 1944, and sprawls approximately 1,000 hectares.

The airport was estimated to cost $1.7 million but ended up costing $4.2 million (the equivalent of $57.8 million in 2023) due to sandy soil conditions.

Since then, the airport has grown considerably, with multiple revamps and additions. Last year, the airport served 50.87 million passengers and saw more than 422,508 aircraft movements.

That number is expected to be exceeded this year.

The airport is home to three main runways, 16L/34R, 16C/34C, and 16R/34L, from longest to shortest.

The airport has 115 gates across four main concourses (A, B, C, and D) and two satellite terminals (North and South).

The two satellite terminals are connected to the main terminal via two people movers that make up the SEA Underground.