SEATTLE – Travelers are taking to the skies with rates approaching pre-pandemic levels and the industry is working to keep pace amid a compressed labor market, constrained supply chain, COVID-19 variants, and pandemic fatigue. In its annual end-of-year assessment, the airport announced that total passenger volume at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) reached 36.2 million passengers in 2021. That is down just over 30% from 2019 and up over 80% from 2020.
In 2021 SEA maintained extensive connections to domestic and international destinations despite the pandemic, although changes in traveler behavior elevated new cities into the list of popular destinations.
In 2021, airlines adjusted flight schedules to better focus on the places travelers want to fly. Flight frequency exceeds pre-pandemic levels to certain sun-soaked destinations, including Hawaii, Mexico, Tucson, Orlando and Tampa. International service added in 2021 include Alaska Airlines to Belize City (BZE), American Airlines to London (LHR), Qatar Airways to Doha (DOH) and WestJet to Calgary (YYC).
The airport forecasts that passenger volume will return to 95% of pre-COVID levels this year. Expert analysis agrees. In November 2021, SEA hosted a travel trends panel on what to expect during your 2022 journeys. All panelists agreed that 2022 is the year of the GOAT – greatest of all time – trip. Guests are spending more on premium experiences to make a trip more memorable, carve out a little more personal space, or to finally take that bucket list trip that has been on your mind for the last three years.
“The predominance of current travel is driven by the leisure market, and we are so happy to welcome back passengers,” said SEA Managing Director Lance Lyttle. “As you take those postponed and long-awaited trips, remember that travel industry workers are doing more than ever behind the scenes to meet your expectations.”
A record year for air cargo
2021 is a record setting year for air cargo operations at SEA, establishing a new all-time benchmark for tonnage and surpassing the former record set in 2000. Total air cargo was 498,741 metric tons in 2021, which is an increase of 10.2% over 2020.
Moreover, there is a notable rise over the previous two years in airline-reported air cargo metric tonnage as e-commerce notably surged. Domestic air cargo totaled 366,312 metric tons in 2021 – representing a 4.3% increase over 2020 and a 19.4% jump over 2019. International air cargo was 132,271 metric tons in 2021. This is an uptick of 30.9% over 2020, although this remains below the levels seen in 2019.
Flying well in 2022
This year, the airport launches FlyWell@SEA, a campaign for traveler experience, health and wellness. The feeling of not knowing what to do next is one of the most stressful parts of navigating the airport. FlyWell@SEA boosts the confidence and sense of control for travelers by empowering you with airport programs and services create a tailor-made journey from curb to gate.
“Travel is stressful. We get it. And we want to make it better,” added Lyttle. “Travel during the pandemic showed us that health and safety must also include mental health and stress management. SEA is leveling up to help you tap into ways to increase the predictability of your journey along with peace of mind.”
FlyWell@SEA will emphasize the actions, programs and facilities that deliver an enhanced and efficient customer experience in five categories.
- Health and safety that continues to evolve with the pandemic
- Unlock your knowing for how to skip the line and add predictability
- Stay fulfilled with nourishing dining options, holistic retail or water refill stations
- Spaces like the Sensory Room, nursing suites and art program
- Care such as Lost & Found and the growing team of Pathfinders, airport volunteers and customer experience specialists
Learn how to fly well by subscribing to FlySEA for monthly news for travelers. Improvements arriving for spring travel include the International Arrivals Facility and technology integrations to make parking, security and lounging more seamless.
Contact
Perry Cooper | SEA Airport Media Officer
(206) 787-4923 | cooper.p@portseattle.org
