Airport operator the Port of Seattle has released the latest design renderings for the new International Arrivals Facility (IAF) set to be built at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Washington.
The multi-level 450,000ft² facility will be located to the east of Concourse A and will significantly enhance the international passenger experience at the airport. The project is scheduled to break ground in early 2017 and open in late 2019.
John Creighton, president, Port of Seattle, said, “Our international travel continues to grow at a double-digit pace, but what welcomes international travelers to Sea-Tac is a cramped, 1970s 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. The new facility will help drive the port’s Century Agenda strategy to double the number of international flights and destinations over 25 years.”
Part of the new development will include an iconic aerial walkway which will span 900ft in length and will 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 more than double peak passenger capacity at the airport 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.
Other benefits of the new IAF will include more than doubling the passport check booths and kiosks from 30 to 80; will 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; and reduce minimum passenger connection time from 90 to 75 minutes.
The current budget for the IAF is US$660m with funding for the project being sourced from a combination of airport generated revenues, passenger facility charges (PFCs) and revenue bonds.
The Port of Seattle is currently working on more than US$2bn in near-term projects planned to accommodate growth at the airport, including NorthSTAR, a new International Arrivals Facility for the airport’s north satellite building.
