The under-construction observation deck at the SEA concourse C expansion project
AvGeeks traveling to, from, or transiting through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) will soon have access to a relatively rare amenity, at least in the Pacific Northwest of the United States: an observation deck, albeit one that’s airside so it’s only available to ticketed passengers.
Currently expected to open to the traveling public in the second quarter of 2026, the expanded concourse will add at least 10 restaurants to the airport’s offerings, several new retail outlets, some fancy new seating, and lots of artwork. The signature artwork for the new spaces is a very large wood sculpture of a stylized tree, which will arch over an interesting stadium-style seating area.
A panoramic view of the under-construction main seating area and framing for the tree sculpture at SEA’s Concourse C expansion project
But, back to what’s most exciting for the AvGeek crowd – the Lookout at C, as the airport is calling it. It’s a glassed-in observation area, looking west-southwest from the C concourse toward the main terminal and the airport’s taxiways, some of the gate areas, and SEA’s three runways.
Good ‘ol C15 at SEA… the gate I was waiting at for my friend to arrive.
I am one of those who don’t mind doing airport drop offs and pickups. Often I will actually park and walk the person to security or meet them when they come out. I miss the days when you could go through security with the person, walk them to their gate, and wave to their plane as it pushed back. Or welcome them with a smile at the gate as they deplaned. Most drop offs today are about speed and efficiency; the driver will barely roll to a stop, people rush out of the vehicle, bags are thrown to the curb, there are a few quick goodbyes, and then everyone skedaddles before being yelled at by the authorities.
Back in 2018, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) initiated a new program called the SEA Visitor Pass Program. This free program essentially lets you travel back in time to when a non-flying visitor could go through security. I have been wanting to try the program first-hand, but an opportunity never came up… until recently. I had a friend flying in from Montana and I decided to give it a shot. I didn’t let them know my game plan and my hope was to surprise them at the gate.
I would say that for the most part things went pretty smoothly and it was worth the experience. However, I am not sure this will become a regular thing for me.
Over the last few years, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has invited some local AvGeeks, who love sharing their airline passion online, to a special gathering. We all meet up airside and get a rundown of the day, go through security, then pile into a few vans and head out to the airfield, all under escort from airport ops. That part alone is pretty entertaining and fun, but it gets better from there.
We got to spend a bit over four hours between runways 16L/34R and 16C/34C, and it was awesome. I just brought my iPhone to share photos on our social media, but luckily our Francis Zera was there too; he takes way better photos than me. It is just a totally different experience to be so close to the aircraft when they taxi, takeoff, and land.
Virgin Atlantic A330B787 with Mt. Rainier in background
It felt like you could reach out and touch the winglets of the wide bodies as they taxied by (I didn’t try). We did get quite a few confused looks by flight crew, followed by many smiles and waves. Of course the ongoing joke throughout the day (at least it was funny to me) was calling out when an Alaska Boeing 737 or Embraer E-175 was taking off — there were lots and lots of those!
Alaska/Horizon E-175Condor A330
Out of all the planes seen that day, the one that excited me the most was the FedEx MD-11. Such a classic. Such a beauty! The second was an Alaska Air E-175 (let me finish …) with the special Horizon Air livery. As an ’80s child, it brought back memories of flying on Horizon’s Dash-8-100s, Metroliners, Fokker F27s, and Fokker F28s.
This year for sure did not disappoint. Check out all the additional photos below!
Recently, Edelweiss celebrated their inaugural flight from Zurich to Seattle using an Airbus A340 (4 engines 4 long haul). I was double excited not only to see a new international carrier start service at my home airport, but they are also using an AvGeek favorite: the A340. Francis Zera (our Editor-At-Large and Director of Photography) and I tag teamed the event and I would say we had a pretty good time.
The fire trucks, ready to go!
Covering an inaugural arrival has become pretty routine: Decorations at the gate (check), you get to go on the tarmac and watch the plane arrive (check), you get to enjoy a water cannon salute (check), there are VIPs who speak at the gate (check), there is a ribbon cutting (check), and there are some sweet snacks to enjoy (check). Not to say inaugurals aren’t exciting, but with this one, I got to experience something new that I was not expecting.
Water cannon salutes are the norm, but this one had a surprise.
Not long before the Edelweiss inaugural to Seattle, I edited and published Francis’ SAS inaugural story. In his piece he described how he got a bit wet from the water cannon salute due to the wind shifting. I was entertained and even laughed, but brushed it off. When we were told where to stand for the Edelweiss’ Airbus A340’s arrival, I went as far as I could towards the runways… which was also very close to one of the fire trucks. I had a fleeting thought about Francis’ water experience, but I figured worst case it might be a little misty. Nope.
SAS returned to Seattle on May 21, 2025, to begin 5x weekly service between Copenhagen and Seattle after a six-year hiatus
With much fanfare, a turret salute from SEA airport firefighters, and plenty of pastries, SAS Scandinavian Airlines resumed it’s Copenhagen to Seattle service after a sixteen-year hiatus using Airbus A350s on the route.
SAS has a long history in Seattle, having inaugurated service to Europe back in 1966, becoming the first carrier to directly serve the Pacific Northwest from the Continent. The Port of Seattle had a publication named the “reporter,” which ran a three-page cover article about the new service in the October 1, 1966 issue.
Pages from the Port of Seattle Reporter, with an article of the 1966 SAS inaugural flight between CPH and SEA
That service ran from 1966 to 2009, when it stopped due to a downturn in passenger traffic due to the global recession.
Therefore, the May 21, 2025 return was something of a triumph for the airline. The event felt buoyant, like a genuine celebration.
