Alaska Airlines, oneworld, and the Port of Seattle celebrated the completion of the new International Arrivals Facility (IAF) at Seattle-Tacoma Airport (SEA) on Thursday. The new state-of-the-art facility will provide a world-class experience for international travelers.
On Thursday (March 3, 2022), Alaska Airlines announced the completion of the new International Arrivals Facility (IAF) at Settle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Alaska and oneworld joined with the Port of Seattle on Thursday to celebrate the completion of the new state-of-the-art facility, which will provide a world-class experience for travelers arriving from around the globe. The IAF will accommodate the Puget Sound’s increasing demand for international travel with Alaska, oneworld members, and additional global airline partners. Once a period of testing and transition is completed, all international travelers requiring customs clearance will make their way through the new facility.
In Thursday’s announcment, Alaska Airlines’ Senior Vice President of Fleet, Finance and Alliances, Nat Pieper, said,
“Alaska is a global airline – backed by the expansive network of the oneworld alliance and our added partner airlines. The International Arrivals Facility offers a stunning welcome to all our guests arriving in Seattle from destinations worldwide. It dramatically raises the bar with tremendous improvements that modernize the arrival experience.”
Also commenting on the facility completion, oneworld’s CEO, Rob Gurney, said,
“As global travel recovers, the new International Arrivals Facility will provide a world-class experience to oneworld customers returning to the skies. With Alaska's leading network and new service launched by other oneworld members, the facility will strengthen the status of Seattle as a global hub for oneworld.”
The Port of Seattle’s Commission President, Ryan Calkins, added,
“While this facility is brand new, it reflects some of the oldest and most enduring values of our region. We are more committed than ever to making our airport one of the best connected, most convenient, most sustainable, and most welcoming airports in the world.”
Oneworld airlines will offer more international nonstop connectivity from Seattle this summer with an average of 22 daily departures from June 2022, including Alaska’s nonstop flights to Mexico and Canada.
Seattle’s new International Arrivals Facility is expected to reduce connection times by at least 15 minutes. The facility includes an aerial walkway with dramatic views 85 feet above an active taxiway that connects arriving international travelers at the S concourse to the IAF. Additionally, the number of international gates has been increased from 12 to 20, and the facility will be able to more than double peak international arrival capacity to 2,600 passengers per hour, compared to the old facility. The baggage claim area now includes seven rather than four carousels for more efficient luggage collection.
Alaska Airlines and their regional partners serve over 120 destinations in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica and Belize. The sustainability-focused carrier emphasizes Next-Level Care for guests, while offering low fares and award-winning service. Alaska has hubs in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland and Anchorage. The carrier is a member of the oneworld global alliance, and along with their additional partners, Alaska Airlines’ guests can earn and redeem miles on flights to more than 1,000 global destinations on over 20 airlines. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of the Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE: ALK).
Source: Alaska Airlines