ITEM NO: 7b Supp 
DATE OF MEETING: April 9, 2013 

Sea-Tac Airport
International Arrivals Facility
Commission Briefing

Briefing outline
Review historic and projected airport activity and existing
conditions for arriving international passengers
International Arrivals Facility (IAF) planning progress
Work to make the most of the existing facility with modest
improvements and mitigation
Coordination with airlines and Customs and Border Control (CBP)
Review IAF facility expansion alternatives
Recommendation and next steps



2

Commission Century Agenda
25 year vision to advance region as a leading tourism and
business gateway
Make Sea-Tac Airport the West coast "Gateway of Choice" for
international travel
Double international flights and destinations
Meet region's air transportation needs at Sea-Tac Airport for the next
25 years, and encourage cost-effective expansion of domestic and
international passenger and cargo service
Double the economic value of cruise traffic to Washington State



3

2012 passenger traffic
Passenger traffic - overall
33.2 million total passengers
approx. 73% originating and 27% connecting airport-wide
1.6 million arriving international passengers (incl. Canada)
Alaska Air Group (AAG) largest share of international passengers
Passenger traffic  requiring Federal Inspection Services (FIS)
clearance on arrival
1.2 million arriving international FIS passengers
33% of arriving international passengers connected to domestic flights
50% of passengers arriving from Asia connect to domestic flights
25% of passengers arriving from Europe connect to domestic flights
Delta Air Lines has the largest share (28%) of passengers requiring FIS
processing

4

International growth to outpace domestic 
International passengers forecast to grow at 3.5% annually to 2020 
120
International
-2020) 100
3.5%
Cumulative percent growth (2002 80
International
60
6.7%                   Domestic
2.1%
40
2.0%
20            Domestic

0

Source: airline reports (historic), and Part 150 forecast (projected). 

5

South satellite has reached capacity
Originally constructed 1973 for 600 peak hour passengers
Significant addition in 1983 to accommodate 1200 peak hour passengers
Passenger activity reached facility capacity in 2013

1973   2013 



6

Nonstop intercontinental service: 2013
18 services






7

Mid-day peak increased 127% since 2004
54% increase in international passengers
Peak volumes drive capacity, not annual volumes





Source: airline reports and flight schedules
8

Inadequate capacity results in passengers
being held on planes or in sterile corridor
Frequency of hold on plane or corridor events increasing





Source: Port of Seattle Operations Department records
9

At capacity, no room for growth
Facility has reached capacity at peak, risk of gridlock without
improvements
Anticipated 50% increase in peak hour, 600 passengers beyond
capacity over the next 5 to 10 years
5 years to design and construct new facility  time to act is now




10

Remote location
Forces terminating passengers to double-claim bags
Confusing route to main terminal bag claim and arrivals hall
TSA security checkpoint inefficient and no room for expansion
Expensive train capacity project needed if IAF remains at SSAT location




11

Poor customer experience
Congestion
Difficult wayfinding
Inadequate HVAC - "sauna like" atmosphere
Holding area too small to accommodate peak
Lengthy queues
Hold passengers on aircraft or in sterile corridor





12

Action needed on two fronts
Operate existing facility with modest improvements and mitigation until a
new facility can be completed
Proceed with planning and design of new facility with goal of 2018
completion




13

Making the most of the existing facility
Implemented numerous short-term measures to optimize
existing facility
Hired full-time manager to improve IAF operations
Reassigned Port customer service "Pathfinders" from main terminal
Increased primary inspection capacity from 20 to 30 booths
Installed 3 Global Entry kiosks  plans for 3 additional in 2014
Gained commitment from CBP to increase and optimize "surge" staffingopening
2-4 additional booths when needed
Worked with airlines and ground handlers to manage "just in time"
baggage delivery 
Improved air conditioning and escalators


14

Making the most of the existing facility
Upcoming short-term improvements
2 new elevators
Removal of "grade crossing"
Reconfigured/improved TSA checkpoint
Public Address System
Improved wayfinding at FIS exit
Developed plans for hardstand busing operation may begin summer
2013 
Developed plans for 12th South Satellite wide body gate
Determined operational workarounds will not meet long-term needs


15

Projected international peak
Anticipated 50% increase in peak hour, 600 passengers beyond capacity
over the next 5 to 10 years
Growth anticipated to come primarily from new service to Asia
SEA is key to Delta's Pacific Gateway plan




Source: airline reports and flight schedules
16

Serious problems post 2018 without new IAF
Passengers held on board aircraft
Busing passengers from remote hardstands
Backup at primary
Lack of bag claim device capacity
Checkpoint queue space exceeded
Train system capacity exceeded
Passengers missing connections to domestic flights
Increasing aircraft towing with operations split onto two gates



17

SEA lagging competition
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Aggressive strategy to reduce connection time and simplify the process
for international passengers
$600M in planned improvements, marketing and branding
Other major international airports on the West Coast
Los Angeles & San Francisco have new and enlarged facilities
Potential loss of market share
Vancouver                San Francisco           Los Angeles




18

Sea-Tac one of the oldest IAF facilities in
North America
Rank Airport            Recent     Design    Planning
(in operation)
1     New York JFK (Terminal 1,4,7,8)      n < 5 Yr 
2     Miami (Concourse J)             n < 5 Yr 
3     Los Angeles (Bradley Terminal)       n < 5 Yr 
4     Newark Liberty (Terminal B)                      n >20 Yr 
5     Chicago O'Hare               n <15 Yr 
6     Atlanta                    n < 5 Yr 
7     Toronto                   n <10 Yr 
8     San Francisco                n >10 Yr 
9     Houston Bush (Terminal E)         n <10 Yr 
10    Washington Dulles             n < 5 Yr 
11    Dallas Fort Worth              n <10 Yr 
12    Philadelphia                 n < 5 Yr 
13    Vancouver                  n <10 Yr 
14    Boston Logan (Terminal E)         n < 5 Yr 
15    Honolulu                                n >20 Yr 
16    Fort Lauderdale                                        n >30 Yr 
17    Orlando                                            n >30 Yr 
18    Detroit                    n <10 Yr 
19    Seattle-Tacoma                                         n >40 Yr 
20    Charlotte                                            n >30 Yr 
21    Minneapolis (Humphrey Terminal)      n <10 Yr 
22    Las Vegas McCarran            n < 5 Yr 

19

Airline partner coordination
Series of meetings with Delta Air Lines
Meetings and tour of new Atlanta International Terminal
Worked with Delta representatives to develop and prioritize alternatives
Shared data and coordinated analysis of alternatives
Ensured alternatives are consistent with Delta's Pacific Gateway plans
Meeting with AAAC and International Airline Station Managers



20

Long-term facility planning objectives
Deliver just in time capital improvements
Minimize capital and operational costs
Minimize long-term cost of ownership
Encourage international service
Minimize connect times for transfer passengers
Provide world class facilities/experience




21

IAS expansion options




22

Option 1: New Concourse A IAF
International arrivals on South
Satellite and Concourse A
Bridge or tunnel connection from
South Satellite to Concourse A
IAF
Cost: $250M - $300M 



IAF
23

Option 2: Expand South Satellite IAF
International arrivals on South
Satellite and Concourse A
Bridge or tunnel connection from
Concourse A to South Satellite
IAF
Train connection from South
Satellite to Concourse A
Cost: $320M - $385M 
REJECTED
Underground expansion & train
expensive w/ significant impacts
to airside & FIS operations
IAF
24

Option 3: Expand South Satellite IAF
(with additional gates)
International arrivals on South
Satellite only
Above ground expansion
accommodates 5 additional gates
Train connection from South
Satellite to Concourse A
Cost: $545M - $655M 
REJECTED
Most expensive of four options
Above ground expansion requires
relocation of Alaska Airlines
maintenance hangar
IAF
25

Option 4: Dual Processing IAF
International arrivals on South
Satellite and Concourse A
Existing South Satellite IAF
renovation (transfer passengers)
New Concourse A IAF (local
passengers)
Bridge or tunnel connection for
two way flow between South
Satellite and Concourse A
Cost: $335M - $405M 


IAF
26

IAF Options 1 & 4 pros & cons




27

Next steps
Additional alternatives analysis
Evaluation and recommendation of preferred option
Project definition
Environmental review
Seek Commission design authorization summer 2013
Procure design services to begin work on preliminary design
Date of opening 5 years following project approval




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