Seattle-Tacoma International Airport averaging 34,000 fewer passengers per day than this time last year

SeaTac, Wash. — Some 34,000 fewer passengers are traveling through Seattle Tacoma International Airport than at this time last year, SEA officials announced Monday.

According to airport officials, an average of 50,000 passengers passed through security checkpoints per day at the start of last year’s travel. Right now, the airport is averaging 16,000 passengers per day.

The drop in traffic comes as the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise in Washington.

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As Omar Khader caught a flight to Dubai to wait out the Coronavirus pandemic with his family, he traveled with sanitizer, a mask and gloves.

His plan was to “go directly to the gate, and run from everyone, and that’s what everyone’s telling me, just to stay away from people.”

As airlines cut back their flight schedules, they're asking for a federal bailout.

"This is worse than 9-11, for the airline industry," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Tuesday.

Airports are also taking a hit.

“We’re going to be asking for ten billion dollars as an airport industry because we’re feeling the pinch because of the decline of passengers coming through the airport,” said Lance Lyttle, the director of Sea-Tac Airport.

As of Tuesday, the Washington State Department of Health reported 1,012 total cases with 52 deaths.

Gov. Inslee has banned gatherings of more than 50 people and has shut down restaurants, bars entertainment and recreational facilities due to the coronavirus.

Restaurants can operate only in take-out, grab and go, drive-through and delivery capacities.

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SEA officials said 140 new hand sanitizer stations have been installed at the airport with 100 more still to go. Ten restaurants and shops are temporarily closed.

Officials said enhanced disinfection and personal hygiene protocols are in place along with increased public health information throughout the airport.

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