Port shows support for Sea-Tac

The Port of Whitman County at its meeting last week signed a support letter for a renovation project at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

“They are looking at adding on to both the north and the south terminals,” said Joe Poiré, Port executive director. “The airport is going to grow to where, I believe, it can accept another 20,000 passengers a day.”

The Port of Seattle, which operates the Sea-Tac airport, is undertaking the project and funding it. The Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) includes the addition of 35 aircraft gates to up the total of gates to 123, as well as 16 additional international wide-body capable aircraft gates to up that total to 27.

The plan includes an expanded International Arrivals Facility (IAF). According to the Port of Seattle website, the new facility will increase passenger capacity by 60 percent, reduce minimum passenger connection time between flights and cost $608 million.

That part of the project is expected to break ground in the first quarter of 2017 and be completed in the fourth quarter of 2019.

“They’re asking for ongoing support. This is a multi-year process,” said Poiré. “Our commissioners are just going on record that they support them. It’s right in our mission, aviation. We’re all in the association of ports in Washington state, and you’ve got to deliver a unified front.”