Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is set to expand its duty-free shopping with 30,700 square feet of new retail space. The Port of Seattle announced a 20-year contract with Hudson Group Retail to develop these areas across three concourses, starting with the A Concourse in late 2027.
The expansion includes a walk-through shopping experience, new retail concepts, and technology aimed at improving convenience for international travelers. The A Concourse will be the first to undergo upgrades, with construction starting in late 2026.
A Concourse Leads the Way
The A Concourse will add 12,000 square feet of leasable space near the International Arrivals Facility and Gina Marie Lindsey Hall. The main duty-free area will be between Gates A4 and A6, designed to integrate shopping with other passenger services.
Plans include additional dining, a customer information hub, a music stage, and flight information displays. The walk-through design aims to create a seamless shopping experience while keeping passengers informed about their flights.
To accommodate the new space, five existing dining and retail locations will close, with new areas opening on the concourse and mezzanine levels above Gina Marie Lindsey Hall. The A Concourse project is estimated to cost between $8 million and $15 million.
Expanding Beyond A Concourse
The duty-free expansion also includes the S and N Concourses. The S Concourse development will align with the airport’s broader modernization program, known as the S Concourse Evolution project, set to begin in late 2026.
The N Concourse duty-free development timeline remains undetermined. Detailed designs, construction schedules, and costs for these locations will be announced as planning progresses.
Local Businesses Join the Venture
Hudson Group Retail, a subsidiary of Avolta, will manage the new duty-free operations in partnership with four local businesses: MCSB Inc., Bambuza, MOOVN Technologies LLC, and Warren’s News & Gift Inc. Three of these partners are certified under the Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) program.
Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho highlighted the project’s dual benefits: meeting the growing demand for duty-free shopping and creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs. The expansion will also incorporate Pacific Northwest themes to reflect the airport’s regional identity.
What This Means for Passengers
The Port of Seattle has published detailed information about the project on its official duty-free page. Further announcements will provide updates on the S and N Concourse developments.