Busiest travel weekend ahead at Seattle-Tacoma International airport since pre-pandemic
Busiest travel weekend at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport since the pre-pandemic
The state lifted most of the COVID-19 restrictions, including maintaining six feet. However, masks are still required by law by the TSA indoors and on an airplane.
SEATAC, wash. – Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is entering its busiest weekend since the pre-pandemic. Passenger numbers are down 30 percent for that time this year, but are set to increase rapidly this summer after Washington reopens.
“I’m glad they decided to just open it. We got our vaccinations. I’m sure people were prepared and it’s just good to see people,” said Barbara, who followed up with her daughter Arizona travels and granddaughter.
“Everyone wants to travel – I totally understand. So this time I tried to plan ahead to get here a little earlier, ”said Diana Morse, who is traveling to California to visit her family.
The state lifted most of the COVID-19 restrictions, including maintaining six feet. However, masks are still required by law by the TSA indoors and on an airplane.
CONNECTED: Sea-Tac prepares for more travelers after CDC publishes guidelines for fully vaccinated passengers
“Just be responsible and try to make sure I don’t overcrowd anyone and follow everything because, vaccinated or not, I still think it wise to try to follow many of the same protocols in the future,” Morse said.
Although the number of passengers has decreased for this pre-COVID time of year, traffic around the airport has never been so heavy.
“A lot of people are still in pandemic mode, where they don’t use transit, they don’t take lifts. So there are many individual vehicles. You will see a lot more traffic jams, ”said Perry Cooper, an airport spokesman.
Even the traffic in the cell phone parking lot is secured and is expected to deteriorate as airport travel increases this summer. The old expressway to the north is being built to expand the property for easier and safer access.
CONNECTED: Sea-Tac is introducing non-contact security measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus
“We have a number of cars waiting to get out. And we have a number of cars waiting to get in. And with this signal here, they have to wait for each other to get in and out of the parking lot. With this new improvement in access, they don’t have to wait for each other, this conflict is resolved, “said Peter Lindsay, Landside Development Manager for the Port of Seattle.
Lindsay stated the goal is to complete the expansion before Thanksgiving and install new signals sometime after New Years 2022.
Travelers should allow extra traffic and time on this holiday weekend. The TSA said security checkpoints will be the busiest starting Friday between 5-11 a.m. and 1 p.m.-1 p.m.
“Hopefully we’ll see fireworks somewhere but just have a good time – that’s really the key and the way to travel, and that’s great,” said Morse.
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