SEA Welcomes First Flight at New International Arrivals

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) has welcomed the first passenger flight at its new International Arrivals Facility (IAF).

Delta Air Lines flight 196 was the first flight to use the new facility, arriving from Seoul-Incheon on 19 April as part of the project’s final readiness testing phase.

Throughout the testing, flights are initially scheduled to arrive at the A Concourse, which features a dual gate system that directs passengers through a secure corridor into the new IAF for processing by Customs and Border Protection. This element adds eight additional international-capable gates, increasing SEA’s flexibility during peak periods.

The first inbound flight taxied underneath the facility’s aerial walkway and was greeted with a water turret salute as it reached its gate.

© Port of Seattle

The trials will also soon expand to include flights arriving on the S Concourse. These passengers will use the world’s longest walkway over an active taxi lane to enter the IAF’s Grand Hall.

The Grand Hall, a 450,000 square-foot baggage claim and customs processing area that is more than four times the size of the current space in the S Concourse

© Port of Seattle

During these initial trials SEA’s Operational Readiness, Activation, and Transition team will monitor the flow of travellers and track the operation of the IAF’s equipment and systems. The testing phase will also gather feedback from passengers, while allowing staff to become familiar with real-time activity.