The busiest day is expected to be Sunday, July 6, when passenger traffic could set a new single-day record at Sea-Tac Airport.
The newly-added checkpoint at Sea-Tac Airport brings five security lanes.
Author: KING 5 Staff
SEATAC, Wash. — Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is bracing for a surge in travelers over the July 4th holiday period, with nearly 900,000 passengers expected between Thursday, July 3, and Monday, July 7, airport officials said Wednesday.
The projected total reflects a 6% increase from the same period last year. The busiest day is expected to be Sunday, July 6, when passenger traffic could set a new single-day record at Sea-Tac Airport.
The airport already broke its single-day record last month. On Sunday, June 22, a total of 199,000 travelers passed through TSA checkpoints—topping last summer’s records from Aug. 11 and Aug. 18.
Airport officials said six of the 10 busiest days on record occurred just last month, with June 15, 19, 23, 26, and 27 cracking the top 10 for outbound traffic.
To help ease congestion, Sea-Tac opened a new checkpoint in June, adding five screening lanes. Additional lanes are planned for later this year.
The airport set a record with 52.6 million passengers in 2024, with even more projected by the end of 2025, according to the Port of Seattle. The airport plans to add 19 gates and a second terminal by 2032.
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Forecasted daily passenger volumes over the holiday weekend include:
- Thursday, July 3: 190,000
- Friday, July 4: 140,000
- Saturday, July 5: 176,000
- Sunday, July 6: 199,000
- Monday, July 7: 195,000