Usually this time of year at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), we share tips for passengers navigating a bustling airport ahead of Memorial Day weekend. Today, we are sharing the data that illustrates how the airport is operating to meet essential trade, travel, and economic needs of the Puget Sound region while experiencing the ramifications of the global pandemic. The public dashboard, built to provide local governments and industries with key indicators as they track the recovery, shows the dramatic drop in passenger volume down to a 53-year low.
Most passengers continue to follow guidance to avoid non-essential travel, actions that help us maintain the health and safety of those performing essential tasks. About 260,000 passengers travelled through SEA in April of 2020, which is a decrease of 93.6 percent from the same month last year. The last time April passenger volumes were at a similar level was 53 years ago, in 1967.
Forecasts show passenger volume increasing slightly this month with as many as 8,000 departing screened passengers on the busiest May travel days. In May of 2019, SEA averaged almost 53,000 departing screened passengers.
