Stantec Sea-Tac Airport Communities Impact Study: Section 2 – Background (Appendix A, pp. 9–11)

This background section traces the history of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport from its origins as a World War II military airfield to its current status as the eighth busiest U.S. airport, handling 51.8 million passengers in 2019. It covers key milestones including the airport's 1949 opening for commercial service, the controversial addition of a third runway in 2008, and the surrounding communities that have been affected by the airport's growth. The document also outlines the Port of Seattle's future expansion plans under its Sustainable Airport Master Plan, which aims to accommodate nearly 500,000 operations and 56 million passengers annually by 2027.

Notes

Background section of the 2020 Stantec study on current and ongoing effects of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac Airport) operations, prepared for the Washington State Department of Commerce. Covers shared regional history including Muckleshoot, Puyallup, Duwamish, and Suquamish tribal heritage; Port of Seattle founding in 1911; Boeing Company origins with William Boeing and Conrad Westervelt’s 1916 Boeing Model 1 floatplane; Kelly Act 1925; Boeing Field; WWII-era Bow Lake site development beginning 1943; July 1949 passenger terminal opening; addition of second runway in 1970; third runway (Runway 16R/34L, 8,500 feet) proposal in mid-1990s and operational opening November 2008; 2019 statistics showing 51.8 million passengers, 413,000 operations, 87,300 direct jobs, $3.8 billion direct earnings; and the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) projecting growth to 500,000 operations and 56 million passengers by 2027. Impact study area includes Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, Tukwila, Highline School District, and Highline Community Hospital.

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