Water Cannon Salute ! First passenger flight used the new International Arrivals Facility (IAF) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) !

When Delta Airways Airbus A330-941 landed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) on 19th April from Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN), everything was set in to fire the Water Cannons for an honorary celebration !

And the celebrations at the Port of Seattle welcomed the first passenger flight to use the new International Arrivals Facility (IAF) at 'SEA' with the arrival of Delta 's flight DL196 from Seoul-Incheon , that was as per the planned Inauguration.

• The IAF facility is five times the size of the old facility and is expected to process 2,600 passengers each hour , more than double the current flow of 1,200 per hour.
• The walkway in the facility will take passengers up and over the ramp.
• It's a sky bridge high enough to comfortably clear a Boeing 747 that can pass underneath.
• The so-called “swing gates” can be easily switched from domestic to international flights.
• SEA Airport has nonstop flights to 23 international destinations, that includes seven new destinations announced since 2020.

The inaugural flight kicks off the final readiness testing phase of the project.  Between now and May 10, the airport will bring a limited number of flights through the new facility to complete orientation and activation.

Facility Overview , Image © SOM

The first inbound Delta flight taxied underneath the dramatic aerial walkway of the new IAF and was greeted with a water turret salute as it reached its gate.

The first set of limited flights arrives on the A Concourse dual gate system, which directs passengers to a secure corridor leading into the new IAF for processing by Customs and Border Protection.

SOM is the lead designer and architect of record for this new, expanded International Arrivals Facility (IAF) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac). 

The new IAF facility located east of Sea-Tac’s current Concourse A  features an iconic aerial walkway—the uppermost portion spanning 770 feet—that connects international arrivals from the south satellite terminal, across the top of Concourse A, to the new space. Image © SOM .

This element of the new facility adds eight additional international-capable gates, increasing SEA’s flexibility during domestic and international peak periods and increasing the number of international-capable gates from 12 to 20.

“Today is a huge milestone,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho. “Delta has been a great partner in the development of the International Arrivals Facility.  We appreciate their partnership as we expand testing to include their first arriving flights. The next few weeks are key to ensuring that all our guests receive a welcome that reflects the best of our region.”

Trial runs will expand soon to include flights arriving from the S Concourse. These passengers will cross over the longest walkway over an active taxi lane in the world – 780 feet long and 85 feet above the ground.

Both access points enter the IAF’s Grand Hall, a 450,000 square-foot baggage claim and customs processing area that is more than four times the size of the current space in the S Concourse.

SEA Airport plans a real time check of it's operational Readiness , Activation , and Transition (ORAT) team gets feedback from passengers, monitors the flow of travelers, tracks the operation of facility systems, during these initial trials along with providing it's staffs a familiarization of the new facility.

 Image © SOM.

Critical activation and milestone activities at SEA  Airport include :

• Operation of carousels and baggage handling system,
• Building readiness for HVAC, waste management, restrooms, and other amenities,
• Security and emergency response drills, and
• “The Big Flush” to verify water systems keep pace with heavy use.