Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
N 47° 26.593 W 122° 18.090
10T E 552663 N 5254655
The major airport for the Puget Sound region and western Washington serving all major US and worldwide destinations.
Waymark Code: WM43B
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 11/24/2005
Views: 255
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the 22nd busiest U.S. commercial service airport. It is known as "Sea-Tac" for short. I take about 5 to 10 business trips a year and this is my home airport. Over the last 10 years this airport has seen some really nice improvements, especially within the terminal area.
The Pacific Marketplace is an especially nice place to sit, eat, and watch airport traffic through a big glass skywall. I recommend Fish Tacos or Fish & Chips from Anthony's Restaurant & Fish Bar and also clam chowder from Ivar's Seafood Bar. Prices at the airport's stores, restaurants, and lounges are comparable to other locations in the Seattle area; this is known as "street" pricing, so you're not getting ripped by typical airport markup. Note that Pacific Marketplace is behind security, so it is only accessible to ticketed passengers.
And, as is typical for Seattle, you are never far from an espresso place anywhere in the airport.
Sea-Tac is served by two runways. A third runway is under construction, moving slowly due to permitting and some local opposition.
The original control tower was heavily damaged during the Nisqually Earthquake that occurred at 10:54 a.m. on February 28, 2001. A brand new control tower recently opened.
Sea-Tac was developed as a direct response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Military needs limited civilian access to existing airports such as Seattle's Boeing Field and Tacoma's McChord Field, and the federal Civilian Aviation Authority sought a local government to undertake development of a new regional airport. The Port of Seattle accepted the challenge on March 2, 1942. After rejecting creation of a seaplane base on Lake Sammamish, the Port chose Bow Lake in southwest King County for the new airfield. Initial construction was completed in October 1944, but full civilian operation did not commence until dedication of a modern terminal building on July 9, 1949.
Full history:
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Part 1 - Founding
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Part 2 - From Props to Jets (1950-1970)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Part 3 - Boeing Bust to Deregulation (1970s)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Part 4 - Ascent and Dissent (1980-2003)
