TagSea-Tac Airport(2026)

The Port of Seattle Commission considered authorizing a contract for the Flight Corridor Safety Program Phase I, a tree and vegetation removal project at Sea-Tac Airport designed to clear obstructions from navigable airspace and meet FAA safety and compliance requirements. Although the lowest contractor bid came in 28% above the engineer's estimate — a threshold requiring special Commission approval — port staff recommended awarding the contract, noting that existing funds were sufficient and no additional budget was needed. Delaying the project risked FAA non-compliance, potential restrictions on flight approach and departure procedures, and the possible loss of millions of dollars in federal grant funding.

This 2016 Port of Seattle presentation outlines the Sustainable Airport Master Plan for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which was the fastest-growing large hub airport in the U.S. at the time, handling 42.3 million passengers and 381,000 flight operations in 2015. The plan projects significant growth through 2034, forecasting up to 66 million annual passengers and 540,000 aircraft operations, driven by the region's expanding economy. Major infrastructure projects underway included a North Satellite Expansion, a new International Arrivals Facility, runway reconstruction, and a baggage system overhaul to accommodate this growth.

The 2015 Environmental Progress Report for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport outlines the airport's sustainability achievements under its Strategy for a Sustainable Sea-Tac (S3), including increasing the recycling rate from 23 to 34 percent, pursuing renewable natural gas partnerships to cut carbon emissions by 70 percent, and achieving a 90 percent construction waste recycling rate. The report covers environmental, economic, and social sustainability goals integrated with the Port of Seattle's Century Agenda, built on the foundation of the airport's 2009 environmental strategy. Note that this report focuses on broad environmental and sustainability initiatives rather than noise policy specifically.

This document covers the agenda and supporting materials for the March 23, 2016 Highline Forum, hosted by the Port of Seattle at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, focused on the Sustainable Airport Master Plan. Key topics included a Sea-Tac Airport update, business roundtables, and an overview of the Flight Corridor Safety Obstruction Management Program, which aims to remove approximately 1,234 trees and vegetation obstructions around Sea-Tac to comply with FAA safety regulations. The removal effort was planned in three phases from 2016 to 2018, covering Port-owned, publicly-owned, commercial, and residential properties, with a required minimum 1:1 replanting ratio.

A December 2015 presentation by Sea-Tac Airport's Director of Environmental & Planning outlines how the airport is weaving sustainability into its Master Plan across three phases: what and where it builds, how it builds, and how it operates. The plan is guided by the Port of Seattle's Century Agenda and the airport's own Strategy for a Sustainable Sea-Tac (S3), with development concepts for airfield, terminal, and landside areas being screened against sustainability-based evaluation criteria. Key planning constraints include meeting passenger demand growth without adding new runways, improving airfield efficiency through NextGen technology, and converting sustainability goals into measurable decision-making criteria.

This September 2015 technical report, prepared by Leigh Fisher for the Port of Seattle, provides long-range forecasts of aviation activity at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as part of the Sustainable Airport Master Plan. It examines historical and projected trends in enplaned passengers, air cargo, and aircraft operations, drawing on regional socioeconomic data such as population growth, employment, and income in the Seattle-Tacoma area. The forecasts are intended to support future airport planning decisions, including infrastructure and capacity needs.