53 Million Passengers and Growing: Why We Backed the Port's Airport Expansion

Bellevue Chamber of Commerce  |  June 9, 2026

On June 9, we testified before the Port of Seattle Commission at its public hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Sustainable Airport Master Plan Near-Term Projects. Diana Leo, our Vice President of Government Affairs, delivered the testimony in strong support of the projects. 

SEA Is Business Infrastructure

Our member businesses, from small family-owned firms to large employers, rely on SEA every single day. They use it to bring in clients, ship products, attract talent, and connect with partners around the world, so when the airport is congested, that cost shows up in lost deals, delayed shipments, and frustrated customers and employees.

The Demand Is Coming Either Way

The Draft EIS confirms what our members already know, which is that demand is growing, and the existing terminal cannot keep pace. SEA handled 53 million passengers last year, and that number is projected to reach 56 million by 2032 whether or not new facilities get built. That framing is the heart of our position.

"The question before the Port is not whether those travelers will come. They will. The question is whether our region will be ready to welcome them in a way that reflects the world-class economy we have built here." — Bellevue Chamber testimony to the Port of Seattle Commission

Jobs, Cargo, and the Trade Economy

The Draft EIS itself notes that the Near-Term Projects would generate new jobs for airline staff, retail workers, and maintenance crews, and would support indirect growth in hotels, restaurants, and businesses across the region. We also flagged the cargo side, which gets less attention than passenger terminals but matters just as much to the Eastside's manufacturers, agricultural producers, and the companies that depend on moving goods. Expanded and modernized cargo facilities strengthen the region's position as a trade hub for the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

"SEA is not just a transportation hub. It is an economic engine, and these projects keep that engine running." — Bellevue Chamber of Commerce testimony to the Port of Seattle Commission, June 9, 2026

What Happens Next

We asked the Port Commission to finalize the Draft EIS, adopt the Proposed Action, and move forward with construction. The June 9 hearing closed the public comment stage of the environmental review, and the record now moves with the Port toward a Final EIS and a Commission decision on the Proposed Action.