Port and Partners Support Airport Employees Impacted by Severe Drop Off in Travel

The Port of Seattle is aiming its efforts to prioritize and communicate employee support programs as official March data begin to show the dramatic decline in traffic at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) due to the COVID19 crisis. Passenger traffic was down 56 percent for the month of March, however, air cargo is up nearly four percent reflecting the essential nature of an airport’s role in supporting the economy’s supply chains for products from medical supplies to food and ecommerce.

“This pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on communities who w ere already furthest from opportunity,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Stephanie Bowman. “Equitable and inclusive strategies, like transitioning our workforce development programs to safety net outreach and expanding our emphasis on supporting small businesses, ensures that all airport workers and businesses can thrive in a recovery.”

Before the COVID-19 situation, more than 300 business employed more than 19,000 workers at SEA, making the airport one of the largest job sites in King County.