Sea-Tac Airport Honors Record "30 Millionth Passenger" This Year

Busiest Year Ever For Sea-Tac Airport

Recognizing its busiest year ever, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport today honored a Seattle family's 3-month old as its "30 Millionth Passenger" for 2007, the first time that number has ever been exceeded during one year. The airport also experienced its busiest month ever during the summer and is projected to serve more than 31.3 million passengers before the end of the year.

Three-month-old Ian Peyton of Seattle arrived at Sea-Tac with parents Tracey and Jana Marie, 4 ½-year-old sister Chloe, and grandparents James and Lois Marie Repoz. Ian, who was born on September 11th this year, was heading out with his family to the Cayman Islands for the holiday. The family was randomly selected as they passed through the central security checkpoint at 11:30 a.m. this morning.

"We never expected this," said Tracy Peyton. "We travel all the time, especially my wife, but this is the first airplane trip for Ian, and we expect a lot more in the future."

"Thirty million passengers not only reflects the strength of our region's economy, but it also shows how effective and efficient air travel is at Sea-Tac," said John Creighton, Port of Seattle Commission President. "The major improvements from the Central Terminal to the upcoming third runway are just the visible milestones reached by a community of more than 20,000 workers at the airport who strive to create the best possible travel experience."

This will mark the 5th straight year Sea-Tac has seen an increase in passenger totals. Over the last 25 years, Sea-Tac has recorded only two years of declining passenger traffic (2001 & 2002).

In 2007, Sea-Tac has also seen its busiest months ever for passenger traffic. A record total of 3,252,371 passengers traveled through Sea-Tac in August, breaking the previous record set the month before as July brought in a total of 3,220,089 passengers. The record prior to July 2007 was in August of 2001.

The projected passenger total for 2007 is expected to exceed 31.1 million. The total exceeds the previous high of 29.9 million in 2006, an increase of approximately four percent.

The family received a gift package from airlines, retailers and the Port of Seattle. After a brief ceremony, the family received a ride to their gate in a cart that sported a sign which read, "30 Millionth Passenger On Board."