Sea-Tac sees a surge in travelers as the pandemic persists

In the second week of June, Sea-Tac saw more than 10,000 travelers a day.

The airport previously hadn't hit that threshold since the pandemic forced millions across the world to change their travel plans.

Airline carriers have been working to make tight plane cabins more conducive to social distancing.

The Port of Seattle, which operates Sea-Tac, has made hundreds of changes to the airport, in an effort to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

But still some problems persist: Sea-Tac requires masks in the terminal, and there are people handing them out. But some people are pulling them down as they share hallways with dozens — or even hundreds — of others.

Moreover, space is still relatively tight in some parts of the airport. Even though passenger counts are still down significantly, there are still places where passengers cannot maintain six feet of distance.

Airport security lines also present a challenge to social distancing. Although Transportation Security Administration agents wear masks and gloves, and have plexiglass screens for protection, coronavirus has still been impacted those checkpoints.

A total of 12 Sea-Tac TSA agents have tested positive for coronavirus since March. The most recent agent confirmed to have the virus last worked on June 9.

For as long as no vaccine is available to guard against the novel coronavirus, no one can promise absolute safety. There has also been a nationwide spike in coronavirus infections, as various states reopen their economies.

“Our goal with all of our partners is to make the travel experience as safe and as healthy as we can," said Port of Seattle spokesman Perry Cooper. “People still have to make their decisions — what’s essential travel to them, and what they are going to do. So, everybody understands that."