Airport News

Airport News

Soaring profits: Sea-Tac's retail outlets had a bumper year

A record total of passengers spent a record amount of money eating and shopping last year at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

More than 33.2 million passengers passed through Sea-Tac in 2012, the second straight year the airport surpassed its all-time record.

International passenger traffic increased 8.8% while overall traffic went up 1.2%.

Airport concessions business benefitted with a record $180 million in sales, including a record $14 million in duty-free sales.

Sales per boarded passenger rose to $10.91, a 6% increase from 2011.

The Port of Seattle collected $25 million in revenues which go directly back to airport improvements.

“Sea-Tac Airport continues to advance as a leading tourism and business gateway for our entire region,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner John Creighton. “These numbers point out the tremendous value of the airport as an economic engine to bring jobs and continued growth in business and tourism.”

Notable product sales totals included:

  • 1.7 million bottles of water
  • 230,000 bags of M&Ms
  • 90,000 neck pillows
  • 20,000 copies of “50 Shades of Gray” – the biggest selling book
  • 10,000 “Sleepless in Seattle” nightshirt/PJs