Officials at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) report that operations are nearly back to normal following a cyberattack that took several critical systems offline last weekend. According to an airport spokesperson, most domestic travelers should now experience minimal disruptions, with standard wait times for checking bags.
However, the effects of the cyberattack are still being felt by international flights and some low-volume carriers, where manual processes such as hand-writing bag tags and boarding passes remain in place. “If you don’t have to check a bag, that’ll make a difference,” SEA spokesperson Perry Cooper advised, adding that many passengers might not even notice the ongoing issues.
Security operations have largely returned to normal, with most passengers passing through security lines within 30 minutes. Despite this progress, some systems, including flight status boards and baggage claim information boards, are still non-functional. Travelers are encouraged to use their airline’s app to monitor flight and baggage information.
In the meantime, airport staff have stepped up to assist passengers, with announcements being made at baggage claim and additional customer service representatives positioned near the carousels to help guide travelers.
The cyberattack was first detected by airport staff on Saturday morning, and by Sunday afternoon, officials confirmed that it was indeed a cyberattack. The incident comes during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with more than 500,000 people expected to pass through SEA Airport during the Labor Day travel period.
