TagAlaska Airlines(57)

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport handled 49.8 million passengers and 438,391 aircraft operations in 2018, ranking 8th in the U.S. by passenger volume. A noise compatibility study forecasted total annual aircraft operations to grow from approximately 301,870 in 2009 to 399,200 by 2021, driven by increases in both domestic and international air carrier activity. The airport operates three category IIIb certified runways and is dominated by Alaska Airlines, which carries over 50% of its passengers.

In an April 2019 letter to the Port of Seattle's Executive Director, Alaska Airlines expressed support for SeaTac airport expansion but raised serious concerns about the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP), arguing that the proposed 19-gate north terminal is disconnected from the main terminal, more gates than needed, and would leave 80% of travelers underserved. Alaska's independent consultants concluded that only 10 additional gates are necessary to meet projected 2027 passenger demand, and the airline proposed a phased 10-gate alternative as a less costly and less environmentally impactful solution. The letter urged the Port to include Alaska's alternative in the formal NEPA environmental review process to ensure a more legally defensible and balanced approach to airport development.

This November 2018 Port of Seattle commission briefing provides a quarterly update on the NorthSTAR Program, a joint Port of Seattle and Alaska Airlines effort to renovate and expand Sea-Tac Airport's North Satellite facility from 12 to 20 contact gates. Construction was reported as on schedule and within its $672.1 million authorized budget, with Phase 1A — including 5 new gates, a north holdroom, and concessions — on track to open in January 2019. The report also covers workforce diversity metrics, change orders, and upcoming milestones extending through a projected project completion in July 2021.

The Burien Airport Committee (BAC) met on June 19, 2018 to discuss several airport-related issues affecting the city, including an FAA Petition for Review filed by Burien, meetings with Alaska Airlines, and a proposed noise workshop and survey through the StART program. The agenda also covered potential economic opportunities linked to airport proximity and plans for future presentations on environmental justice and public health impacts. The committee reviewed an 'Aircraft Noise 101' presentation as part of its ongoing efforts to address noise policy concerns related to Sea-Tac Airport.

This January 2018 Port of Seattle Commission briefing provides a quarterly update on the NorthSTAR Program, a joint Port of Seattle and Alaska Airlines effort to renovate and expand the North Satellite terminal at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The project involves growing the facility from 12 to 20 contact gates, modernizing existing infrastructure, and upgrading baggage handling systems, with construction on schedule and approximately $98.3 million spent of a $658.3 million budget. Key completed milestones include FAA-approved crane operations, structural steel erection, and installation of rainwater harvest tanks, while ongoing work includes chilled water piping replacement and escalator upgrades.