The Port of Seattle joined Alaska Airlines to celebrate the completion of major construction for the SEA Gateway Project today. The project gave Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)’s north end of the main terminal a major facelift, transforming the airport’s front door and the customer experience from curb to gate. The completion kicks off a year of Upgrade SEA projects finishing ahead of this summer’s international soccer tournament.
After two years of construction walls and scaffolding, the SEA Gateway Project now offers a lighter, brighter, more efficient and modern customer experience.
“Everyone has worked tirelessly to bring this multi-level project to life as a portal to the Pacific Northwest,” said Port of Seattle Commission President Ryan Calkins. “This level of customer service and ease is what people have come to expect of a top-tier international airport, and together, we’ve delivered.”
The $546 million project adds Alaska Airlines innovation technology with the first at-scale automated bag drops, efficiency upgrades, light-filled open spaces, Bridge Level check-in, upgraded baggage claim devices, digital monitors, new art displays throughout, a redesigned security checkpoint, upgraded restrooms, and new entry/exit doorways with safety bollards and accessibility ramp accommodations.
“From initial planning to final construction, this project has been years in the making in partnership with the Port of Seattle – achieving the goal of reducing the time our guests spend in line at the airport,” said Shane Jones, Senior Vice President of Fleet, Revenue Products and Real Estate at Alaska Airlines. “We now have an amazing space with innovative technology in our lobby that provides for a more seamless travel experience.”
More on the way! A year of WOW
Even more exciting project completions are on the way for Upgrade SEA ahead of this summer’s international soccer tournament in June. The C Concourse Expansion will add four new floors of amenities and services, while the Roadway Improvements project will add two more lanes and efficiencies into the airport garage and drives.
Openings in the last year
These upcoming completions are in addition to projects that opened last year. Passengers started using the redesigned Checkpoint 6 prior to the winter holidays, and the new Checkpoint 1 at the south end of Baggage Claim opened in June. This is great news for all, as 93% of all passengers made it through security checkpoints in less than 20 minutes in 2024 Additionally, $62 million went into completing Restroom Renovations on B, C, and D Concourses. Plus, the A Concourse Expansion for Lounges is now ready.
More SEA Gateway details
- Redesigned Checkpoint 6 — doubled the space in front, tripled the recompose area in the back, and reconfigured the six lanes for higher efficiency.
- Created new Bridge Level check-in/bag drop — more ways for passengers to breeze through check-in between Skybridges 5 and 6.
- Improved Baggage Claim Level — new claim devices at 15 and 16, lighting, ceiling fixtures, digital monitors, widened seating areas, and multiple art display cases.
- Upgraded the drives — refreshed and updated door portals, new access ramps at all entrance/exits updated to meet ADA standards, and longevity modifications for two glass elevators.
- Updated restrooms — six more women’s stalls, 4 more men’s fixtures, Companion Care adult changing tables, Nursing Room, and water fountain and refill station.
- Added public art throughout — eight major public art installations in the project: 2 on Bag Claim level, 2 on Skybridge level, and 4 on Ticketing and Esplanade level.
- Sustainability — On track to achieve LEED Silver for Commercial Interiors certification due to the many energy-efficiency improvements incorporated into the design.
- Infrastructure upgrades — HVA, electrical, plumbing, plus fire and life safety systems.
For more information on upcoming and completed SEA Airport capital projects, visit Upgrade SEA.
About Alaska Air Group
Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, and McGee Air Services is a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. We are a global airline with hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. We deliver remarkable care as we fly our guests to more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. We’ll serve Europe beginning in spring 2026. Guests can book travel at alaskaair.com and hawaiianairlines.com. Alaska is a member of the oneworld alliance, with Hawaiian scheduled to join oneworld in spring 2026. With oneworld and our additional global partners, guests can earn and redeem points for travel to over 1,000 worldwide destinations with Atmos Rewards. Learn more about what’s happening at Alaska and Hawaiian at news.alaskaair.com. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as “ALK.”
