Sea-Tac Airport officials warn of need for expansion

SEATAC, Wash. (AP) — Traffic at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is growing faster than expected, and officials say expansion is a top priority.

The News Tribune reports that in a memo to the Port of Seattle, airport director Mark Reis noted Seattle had the highest rate of population growth of any big U.S. city in 2013, and last year Sea-Tac was the fastest-growing large hub airport. It handled nearly 37.5 million passengers last year, a jump of 7.7 percent.

Two near-term expansions are about to begin: a new International Arrivals Facility at the airport's south end, as well as a remodeled and expanded North Satellite Terminal.

But officials say that won't be enough to accommodate the 66 million passengers projected to use Sea-Tac annually two decades from now. The port commission is expected to decide this year among options that include a new terminal north of the existing North Satellite, or a second South Satellite terminal.