Airport Overview
The Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is often referred to by one of several names, the most common of which are Seattle Airport, SeaTac Airport, Sea-Tac, and SEA Airport. The airport serves the Seattle metropolitan area and is the largest airport in the Pacific Northwest. It is located 14 miles (23 km) south of downtown Seattle in the city of SeaTac, Washington. It is also 18 miles (29 km) north of downtown Tacoma.
As one of the busiest airports in the U.S., the Seatac Airport provides international flights to locations all over the world, including cities in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. With three long runways and over 40 million passengers annually, it is one of the fastest growing airports in the US. More info can be found below.
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Airport Stats & Facts
- In 2019, the Seattle Tacoma Airport provided flights to over 49 million passengers.
- SEA is the 8th busiest airport in the United States.
- SEA is the 29th busiest airport in the world.
- Awards:
- Excellence in Departure Performance.
- Best Airport Staff Service in North America.
SeaTac Airport Traveling Tips
- Airport peak hours are between 5am & 11am and between 7pm & 9pm. Peak travel days are Thursdays & Fridays. Arrive at SEA Airport at least two hours prior to the scheduled flight!
- During peak hours and Holidays, use the Departure upper level for pick up and the Arrival lower level for drop off.
- Arrive 2 hours before a domestic flight departure and 3 hours before an international flight departure to account for TSA security wait times and any possible delays.
- Take a few minutes to look at the Seattle Airport map before heading to the airport for a flight.
Passenger Pickup and Dropoff:
- Suggest that your arriving party meet you outside of the ticketing upper level using the less-crowded Departures drive.
- Park either on the SEA Terminal Direct level of the parking garage at $5/hr, or use the Cell phone waiting lot (free for up to 30 mins) and wait until your party has collected bags & calls you for curbside pickup.
Important Notice:
- Pathfinders & Volunteers wear blue shirts with 3/4-length sleeves & left-hand insignia; Private contractors preparing passengers for TSA checkpoint screening wear black trousers with white shirts with two insignias at left, and right. TSA Officers at the screening area wear dark blue shirts, black trousers & ties, and TSA labels on both arms.
Flight Status
- For arriving flights: SEA Arriving Flight Status provides SEATAC arrival times, delays, time-to-land, and gate info.
- For departing flights: SEA Departing Flight Status lists actual vs scheduled departure times, flight delays, map tracking, and SEA airport gate info.
- To get the best fares at Seattle Tacoma airport, book a Flight at SEA
Seatac Airport Terminals
Sea Tac Airport SEA has one main terminal, called the Central Terminal, as well as two satellite terminals. The terminals host a total of 80 gates. To see the terminal locations and additional information, please refer to the Seattle Airport terminal map.
Central Terminal
The Central Terminal has four concourses: Concourse A, Concourse B, Concourse C, Concourse D. The ticketing area, baggage claim, and ground transportation are also located in this terminal.
Satellite Terminals
- North Satellite Terminal - 12 gates (N1-N3, N6-N11, N14-N16).
- South Satellite Terminal - 13 gates (S1-S12, S15). This terminal also handles all of the airports arriving international flights.
Both satellite locations provide transportation to and from the concourses in the main terminal via an automated underground train system called the Satellite Transit System.
Airlines Served
The SEA Airport serves over 30 different airlines. It also serves as a main hub for Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Horizon Air.
- Alaska Airlines, which is headquartered near the airport, utilizes SeaTac as its primary hub and provides approximately 40% of the airport’s flights.
- Delta Airlines uses the airport as a hub for all international flights to and from Asia.
Seattle Airport Parking
Short-term and Long-term Parking: Parking at SEA Airport is available onsite. The airport parking garage is open to the public and has more than 12,100 available parking spaces. Monthly parking programs and handicap accessible parking are also available through the airport.
Off-site Parking: Many parking lots offer affordable off-site parking near the Seattle Airport. Most of the off-site parking lots allow 24/7 access and also provide a shuttle service to and from the airport.
Ground Transport
After arriving SEA airport, passengers have several options for ground transport to their next destination. Some of the transportation options include airport shuttles, car rentals, buses, and trains. In addition, many passengers also utilize ride services like Uber, Lyft, and taxis.
Seattle Airport Car Rental: Car Rentals are a breeze at Sea-Tac. There are multiple car rental agencies onsite at the airport. Hertz, Enterprise, National, and other well-known car rental providers offer airport travelers a large variety of vehicles to choose from.
Seattle Tacoma Airport Shuttle: Airport Shuttle Services are a great way to travel to and from the Seatac Airport. With over twelve different shuttle and van services, you can get a ride to almost any nearby location.
Buses & Trains: Public transportation is available from SEA airport to all major areas nearby. The Light Rail train runs from the Seattle Airport parking garage all the way to downtown Seattle and the University of Washington. The Sound Transit Express Bus is another popular mode of transportation, with tickets under $3 USD.
Amenities & Services at SeaTac
To help you enjoy your stay, the Seattle Airport provides visitors with many different amenities and services including:
- Restaurants, cafes, and bars.
- Stores, gift shops, and local souvenir shops.
- Shoe shine stations and massage bars.
- Multiple art installations and exhibits on display.
- Free Wi-Fi internet throughout the entire airport.
- Currency exchange.
Contact Information
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is owned and operated by the Port of Seattle.
Address: 17801 International Blvd./Pacific Hwy South, Seattle, WA 98168, USA
Website: http://www.portseattle.org/seatac/
Contact: http://www.portseattle.org/About/Contact/Pages/Contact-Sea-Tac.aspx
Phone: (206) 787 5388 or 1-800-544-1965
Website: http://www.portseattle.org/seatac/
Contact: http://www.portseattle.org/About/Contact/Pages/Contact-Sea-Tac.aspx
Phone: (206) 787 5388 or 1-800-544-1965
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Seattle Airport: A Brief History Timeline
- The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was built in 1944 by the Port of Seattle. The construction was funded by $1 million from the Civil Aeronautics Administration and $100,000 from the City of Tacoma.
- The first scheduled flights began in 1947 with the Northwest and Trans-Canada airlines.
- By April 1957, the airport had grown to 216 departures a week, serving 7 different airlines.
- In July 1959, Seatac Airport opened its first concourse.
- In 1973, a new $28 million terminal was constructed around the original one. In addition, a second runway, a parking garage, two satellite terminals, and an underground train system were also built.
- A third runway was built in November 2008, at a cost of $1.1 billion. This runway is more than triple the length of the two older runways, and gave pilots the ability to land in low visibility.
- In 2014, Delta Air Lines announced that it would use Seattle Airport as the airline’s international hub.
- Today, the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the 8th busiest airport in the United States and is growing faster than any other airport in the country.
- In 2020, the Port of Seattle plans to expand the North Satellite Terminal, adding 181,000 square feet and 8 additional gates to the Sea-Tac Airport.
Seattle Tacoma Airport Q&A
Seattle Washington Airport is located 14 miles (23 km) south of downtown Seattle in the city of SeaTac, Washington. The airport is also 18 miles (29 km) north of downtown Tacoma.
Yes. While the official name is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, it is also commonly referred to as Seattle Airport, Sea Tac Airport, and SEA.
Seattle-Tacoma Airport is the main hub for Alaska Airlines, Delta Airlines, and Horizon Air. Sea-Tac serves as the primary hub for Alaska Airlines and hosts the majority of the airline’s flights.
Passengers are permitted to sleep in the Seattle Airport. It remains open 24 hours a day and visitors can stay airside overnight. There is also a designated rest area located at Gate B4, which provides comfortable seating and power outlets. We also recommend these awesome Seatac layover ideas.
In terms of cost, January is typically the cheapest month to fly into the Seattle-Tacoma Airport.
There are two airports that serve the city of Seattle, Washington: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and King County International Airport (BFI). Seattle-Tacoma is a much larger and busier airport.
Being a major airport, you can fly to many cities around the world without a stopover. Check out our direct flights page to see where you can go!