Seattle-Tacoma International Airport unveils new international arrivals facility

SEATTLE — Port of Seattle introduced the new International Arrivals Facility (IAF) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) on Thursday.

The new facility will accommodate Puget Sound’s increasing demand for international travel.

Once the IAF is tested and employees trained, all arriving passengers who need to clear customs after international flights will make their way through the new facility.

The opening comes just in time for increased summer travel.

SEA will offer more nonstop international flights this summer – an average of 22 daily flights starting in June.

The new facility is expected to reduce connection times by at least 15 minutes, making it easier and more convenient for arriving international passengers to continue with their travels.

The new structure includes a marquee, first-of-its-kind aerial walkway that connects guests arriving on international flights at the South Concourse to the IAF.

Passengers will pick up their bags there and continue on to customs processing, making a single checkpoint to clear customs.

The number of international gates has also increased from 12 to 20 to allow for more flights during peak periods.

The new facility is four times larger than the old one and will double peak international arrival capacity to 2,600 passengers an hour.

There are also seven carousels at baggage claim, instead of four.

Volunteers are invited to participate in a passenger-flow simulation at the new terminal. Learn more here.

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