For the third consecutive year, a record number of passengers, more than 34.7 million, traveled through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in 2013, according to statistics released today by the Port of Seattle. This was the third straight record-setting year at Sea-Tac, with international passenger traffic showing the largest growth, up more than 10 percent compared to 2012.
“Sea-Tac Airport continues to be a leading economic engine for our region, and the addition of new routes strengthens our position as a world-class gateway for international and domestic traffic,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner John Creighton. “Expansion of air service plays a large part in our Century Agenda goal to help create 100,000 new port-related jobs over the next 25 years. We will continue to invest in cost-effective expansion of passenger and cargo service.”
The total 2013 passenger figure of 34,776,666 was up 4.7 percent, surpassing the previous record of 33,223,111 set in 2012. International passengers increased by 10.2 percent to 3,579,370, an uptick from the previous record of 3,248,069 set in 2012. The monthly record for passengers going through U.S. Customs was exceeded every month in 2013!
International traffic is expected to increase further in 2014 as Delta Air Lines adds new routes to London (beginning in March) and Hong Kong and Seoul (beginning in June).
Thirteen new intercontinental services were added at Sea-Tac since 2007: Air France (2007 to Paris, transitioned to Delta, 2012), Lufthansa (2008 to Frankfurt), Hainan (2008 to Beijing), Icelandair (2009 to Reykjavik), Delta (2010 to Beijing, 2013 to Shanghai and Tokyo-Haneda, with London, Hong Kong and Seoul beginning in 2014), Condor (2011 to Frankfurt), Emirates (2012 to Dubai), and ANA (2012 to Tokyo-Narita).
Sea-Tac currently has international nonstop connections to five cities in Asia (Beijing, Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul, and Taipei), five cities in Europe (London, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt and Reykjavik) and Dubai in the Middle East.
Air Cargo Increase
Air cargo also saw an increase for the third time in the past four years, increasing 3.2 percent overall. The 2013 total of 292,708 metric tons is the largest total at Sea-Tac since 2008. International cargo rose nearly 8 percent over the previous year. Trade by air with Asia and the Middle East rose 15.1 percent to a record 62,084 metric tons, with both export and import tonnage with Asia reaching record highs at Sea-Tac. Total international import tonnage also set a new record in 2013.Last year, Asiana Airlines added 747-400 freighter service to become the sixth carrier with regularly scheduled cargo freighter service at Sea-Tac.
In 2014, the port is scheduled to complete $20 million of investment into three new airfield projects to expand, improve and upgrade air cargo facilities located north of the main passenger terminal.
For more information visit the statistics webpage.
