SEATTLE – The Port of Seattle opened five new gates as the first of several milestones in the expansion phase of the North Satellite Modernization Project at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Opening the 201,000 square foot expansion for limited service allows final construction to continue while giving passengers early access to more elbow room and brand-new seating with built-in charging stations at additional gates and waiting areas.
As construction continues, concessionaires will open in February and March, including:
- Bambuza Vietnamese Kitchen, a family owned-Portland based brand originally started in Seattle, is opening the first Vietnamese concept at Sea-Tac with rolls, salads, Pho, Banh Mi sandwiches, vermicelli noodles and rice bowls.
- Caffe D’arte, a locally owned, Italian coffee roasting company that will serve up high quality espresso, drip coffees, pastries, sandwiches and snacks.
- The New Stand, a modern era travel retailer and newsstand concept for the reading and gift needs of passengers.
- Skillet, beloved in Seattle for its elevated comfort food, brings the street food movement into the airport with an approachable diner vibe offering meals made from local ingredients and from-scratch cooking.
“Passengers will be thrilled with the open spaces, natural light and incredible views in the expansion. The new North Satellite makes a dramatic comparison to the old 46-year old facility. This project shows how high we are raising our standards on sustainability and efficiency while celebrating what we love about the Pacific Northwest,” said Lance Lyttle, managing director of Sea-Tac Airport.
Those traveling through the expanded North Satellite will experience a bright and open space with a gracefully curved and wood-clad clerestory roof that allows filtered sunlight into the center of the building to connect passengers with the outside. Travelers will recognize a distinct Northwest sense of place with earth-toned textured finishes in carpeted holdrooms at each gate that have views of airfield activity and mountain vistas as well as the flooring’s undulating terrazzo patterns in whites, blues, and greys.
For the grand opening this summer, the Port and Alaska Airlines will unveil an upper level mezzanine, additional gates, and the Alaska Lounge.
“We are excited about this first important step in the transformation of the North Satellite into a modern, world class facility,” said Shane Jones, vice president, airport real estate and development at Alaska Airlines. “We look forward to continuing our close partnership with the Port of Seattle to complete the remaining phases of construction, including a new flagship lounge that is expected to open in the first half of 2019.”
All operations in the North Satellite will transition to the new expanded section by June at which time the current facility will be closed and renovated over the next two years to match the new facilities. Full renovation of the existing North Satellite will be complete in 2021 with double the dining and retail space and 20 new and renovated gates, which is eight more gates than the current facility.
Sea-Tac Airport is investing in its facilities and passenger experience to change to the better. Between 2017 and 2022, the Port is investing $3.2B in critical projects such as the Central Terminal Renovation, North Satellite Modernization and International Arrivals Facility. Starting this year and through 2021, we will add or upgrade 1.2M square feet at the airport, which creates more elbow room, improves safety and meets the region’s needs. Passengers can look forward to something new every 90 days in 2019 at Sea-Tac Airport, and the opening of these five gates is the first of many improvements to come online this year.
