A 2017 Port of Seattle report outlines strong cargo growth at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, driven primarily by new freighter services from DHL (relocated from Boeing Field) and Amazon Prime Air, both launched in 2016. The surge in freighter activity shifted the cargo mix to roughly 65% freighter and 35% belly cargo, with year-end 2017 totals conservatively forecast at 420,000 metric tons — a 14.6% annual increase. On-airfield cargo facilities reached full capacity, prompting discussions about expanding the cargo footprint at up to three on-airfield locations as well as off-airport development north and south of the airport.Open full document
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This Port of Seattle attachment reports on cargo growth drivers at Sea-Tac Airport, primarily attributing the increase to new freighter operations from DHL (relocated from Boeing Field) and Amazon Prime Air beginning in 2016. It forecasts year-end 2017 total cargo at 420,000 MT, a 14.6% annual increase, and notes that on-airfield cargo facilities are at or above capacity with discussions underway to expand the cargo footprint.