A 42-photo look at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), complete with photos of its many regular airline visitors.

On August 12th, 2022, I was part of the first Port of Seattle Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) photocall. It was a great honor to be only hundreds of feet away without glass in the way between my camera and the aircraft I love watching.

Operator: Public, Port of Seattle

Runways: Three – 16L/34R (11901 x 150 feet, grooved concrete), 16C/34C (9426 x 150 feet, grooved concrete), and 16R/34L (8,500 x 150 feet, grooved concrete)

Since I wanted unique photo opportunities before the photocall, I obtained a free SEA Visitor Pass to walk the airport and take photos. One only needs to go to the program’s webpage and enter the correct personal information for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to verify and screen you to apply. Only 100 souls per day may have one of these passes – so I applied a week early.

Going over the June 2022 passenger statistics – the latest available as of press time – for SEA, considering that if every day in June used all 100 slots, that total of 3,000 monthly pass users would only be 0.07% against the sum of 4,226,242 total passengers using SEA in June 2022. It's good that the airport now has its own FlySEA app also for the Apple App Store and also Google Play.

Introduction and statistics shared, I went through about 20 minutes of security lines and screening to walk through the airport. I perhaps spent too much time this trip in the renovated S Satellite trying to intercept international aircrews and travelers, not knowing that they deplane at a certain level beneath the boarding level. I also decided to focus on the A and B gates since I had maybe once walked through those areas. At least I caught some unique photos, as you’ll see below, and said hi to some flight attendants.

Upon deplaning at SEA, many flight attendants and pilots change aircraft, and Christina with Delta Air Lines was no exception. We were amazed that she was going off on a direct flight to Raleigh, North Carolina – a regional city on the United States East Coast but whose airport was recently profiled by Simple Flying.

I also spotted two dining opportunities with a dramatic difference between the two. On the one hand, the American fast food chain McDonald’s offers cheeseburgers, fries, soda pop, and other simple food. On the other hand is the French-Northwest blend The LouLou Market and Bar offering fine cuisine by Thierry Rautureau, who trademarked The Chef In The Hat. According to the August 11, 2022, Port of Seattle blog, Rautureau said,

“LouLou is a feel-good café. Sip a glass of champagne at the bar or savor lunch on the terrace. We are trying to provide a bit of Seattle to the travelers.”

Nonetheless, I was focused on the planes and the ground elements, so please don't ask me about the food in the comments. However, I admit to going to a Starbucks for a caffeine boost.

As you can see above, just one Delta Air Lines Boeing 737 requires a gourmet truck, multiple luggage vehicles, and a tug. Behind the wing and some of the luggage trucks and trailers is a fuel truck with a hose connecting the plane to the underground pipelines. If you look closely to the left, you’ll see a “Follow Me” truck with an orange & white checkerboard flag. Maybe one day, I’ll spot a honey truck for all the aircraft’s wastewater from the galleys and restrooms.

Any discussion of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is incomplete without discussing the main newer air control tower. This air control tower was dedicated on May 24, 2004, with US Senator Patty Murray speaking. According to her Senate website,

I fly back and forth between Washington state and Washington, D.C. almost every week. I never forget as I travel that I’m relying on the wise judgment and steady hands of dozens of air traffic controllers who guide my flight from coast to coast. People who are so trained, so skilled, and so professional that not an even an earthquake can shake them from their commitment to the flying public.

According to Airport Technology, the newer air traffic control tower is 269 feet tall, with the 850 square feet cab 233 feet high. That’s significantly larger and higher than the old tower’s cab at 170 feet with a 500 square foot size cab.

Here is the older air traffic control tower for SEA. This tower now serves as the ramp frequency control tower from 170 feet over the ramp. As mentioned in a guide last month, the ramp frequency is intended to guide aircraft from the taxiway to their appropriate gate of 103 gates equally expeditiously and safely.

Part of the photocall tour included a chance to go up on one of the photogenic ALSF2/ALSF II approach lights. According to Avweb.com, these lights are relatively common in the United States. The lights at night and structures during the day help with alignment with and distance from the runway – especially with the crabbing seen during the tour with many aircraft pointing into the crosswind on a short final approach.

Stay informed: Sign up for our daily and weekly aviation news digests.

First, a word to the wise: This is not intended to be a complete list of aircraft or airlines that fly in and out of SEA. But instead of significant airlines and aircraft that use the airport in August 2022. Most of these photos are airside – again, a huge thank you to the Port of Seattle – but when appropriate or necessary, from the terminal side.

Yes, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is a significant cargo hub. For June 2022, the last month that statistics are available, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport handled 38,549 metric tons of air freight in and out of the airport. That air freight comes to and from the airport to and from Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Speaking of contributors to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport traffic, here’s this Federal Express (FedEx) Boeing 777-FS2 on short final in front of my fellow photographers. FedEx has a base at the airport and, according to June 2022 statistics, made 167 landings, the second most air cargo airline visits for the airport after Air Transport International at 176. For comparison, Asiana Airlines made 21 cargo landings in June 2022.

The Boeing 777-FS2 is also known as the Boeing 777 Freighter. The 777 Freighter can take a 224,900 lb (102,000 kg) payload of 38 pallets 4,970 nautical miles. Already, though, Boeing will launch a 777X freighter surpassing these performance statistics.

On the other side of the size spectrum and transitioning from air cargo, no 2021 photoshoot of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport would be complete without some De Havilland of Canada Dash-8-400 (aka Q400) photos. Come January 2023, Alaska Airlines will divest from its regional subsidiary Horizon Air fleet their Dash-8-400s. Simple Flying has already conducted a trip review and documented why Alaska Airlines is making the transition to single jet fleets.

As you may have noticed by now, the escorted photocall was travailing the roads between the active runways in official vehicles, which also created these unique photo opportunities like this Embraer ERJ-175 leading the Dash-8-400.

Speaking of another airframe about to no longer be in an Alaska Airlines livery, here’s an Airbus A320 sliding in under the Runway 16R ALSF2 approach lights. This Airbus was part of Alaska Airlines acquiring Virgin America. As per the latest earnings call for Alaska Airlines, the Airbus A320s will start retiring in the fourth quarter of 2022, with the higher capacity A321s expected to fly for Alaska Airlines through 2023.

The future for Alaska Airlines is clear – the airline wants to go all in on the 737 MAX for mainline service. The new 737 variant is more efficient, and I daresay more photogenic.

Here’s Christina’s ride to Raleigh, North Carolina. It’s a Boeing 737-832(WL).

It’s also worth noting that according to June 2022 Seattle-Tacoma International Airport statistics, Delta mainline flight operations provided 19.57% of the passengers to the airport with 827,240. The Delta Connections regional hub offers an additional 4.62% with 195,327 passengers. The airline’s hub here is significant as combined; Delta provides over 24% of the passenger traffic due to substantial domestic and international service.

After merging Alaska Airlines’ Horizon & SkyWest statistics and Delta Air Lines + Delta Connection, Southwest Airlines comprises the third most landings for June 2022 by 892. The above Southwest Airlines 737-700 photographed from the airport penthouse was headed to San Jose, California.

For fourth place is United Airlines at 706 landings. Here’s a Boeing 737 MAX 9 heading to Chicago.

British Airways now sends a pair of 787 Dreamliners out to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport from London’s Heathrow International Airport daily. It’s nice seeing the British flag carrier come twice a day.

Not to be outdone, the other major British airline – Virgin Atlantic – also sends a 787 Dreamliner once a day to Seattle and back. As you can see in the first photo, the Port of Seattle kindly let photographers go up into the penthouse atop the main terminal to take a look. The views and photo ops were nothing short of stunning. While transitioning, I got the privilege of a photo with the awesome Virgin Atlantic cabin crew as you can see above.

The Irish sent an Aer Lingus Airbus A330 from Dublin, Ireland, to Seattle, Washington, on a seasonal flight. So too, Finnair now sends an Airbus A330 from Helsinki three times a week.

Yes, Condor Airlines comes out to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Condor also has a partnership with Alaska Airlines, where flying on Condor Airlines equals miles on Alaska Airlines.

The German flag carrier Lufthansa kindly sends a Boeing 747-400 back to the megalopolis she was born from daily. As the Boeing 747 fades from passenger service, this sight is much appreciated by Northwesteners.

Worth noting that Icelandair sends a Boeing 757 up to twice a day from Reykjavík to SEA. Later this decade, Icelandair will divest of their Boeing 757s.

According to an August 2022 Airways Magazine interview with their Chairman, Dr. Ahmet Bolar, Turkish Airlines prides itself on flying to 128 countries, 331 cities, and 336 destinations – more countries and international destinations than any other airline with a strong focus on Africa. So, seeing this Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner soar in symbolizes an airbridge to Türkiye with connections to Africa.

Not to be outdone, the Middle Eastern airlines Emirates and Qatar Airways were able to launch their Boeing 777-300ER jetliners to take great circle routes to Dubai and Doha respectfully. Not just are Middle Eastern connections enabled, but also connections to many global destinations on these two high-quality airlines.

Here’s an Air Canada Dash-8-400 heading out. Yes, even after Alaska Airlines retires the airframe – in January 2023, the Canadian airlines Air Canada and WestJet will still be bringing turboprops to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Worth noting the world’s longest aerial walkway over an active aircraft taxi-lane in the background. This walkway is only for deplaning international aircrew and passengers.

To close out the day, Delta Air Lines’ “The Spirit of Seattle” – a Boeing 737-932(ER) pulled into the gate. This aircraft just arrived from Atlanta. She was the ninth Boeing 737-900(ER) delivered to Delta Air Lines. According to a Delta Air Lines statement issued on a Dec. 5, 2013, delivery, the name “The Spirit of Seattle” is in the words of former Delta Air Lines Vice President for Seattle Mike Medeiros.

For 80 years, our customers, employees, and partners in Seattle have embraced Delta, and our growth here would not be possible without them. The Spirit of Seattle aircraft will proudly bear its name as it travels around the country as a representation of Delta's history in Seattle and a sign of our thanks and commitment to our future here.

Indeed, a fitting tribute to one of aviation’s greatest cities. But I'm a bit biased as I live about 100 miles away from Seattle.

What do you think of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport? Let us know in the comments.

Sources: Airport Technology, Avweb.com, Port of Seattle, US Senator Patty Murray

Journalist - When not reading and writing about aviation, Joe is photographing it. Joe Loves educating the public about aviation, and generating enthusiasm around flying while supporting all those who work in aviation. Based in Skagit County, United States