Three new duty-free locations are planned under a 20-year contract, with construction on the A Concourse due to be completed in late 2027.
Hudson Group Retail, LLC (Hudson) and four local small businesses have been awarded three new duty-free locations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) as part of a 30,700-square-foot expansion. Renderings have been released of the new Pacific Northwest concepts, which include a walk-through layout on the A Concourse due in late 2027, alongside spaces in the N and S Concourses.
The joint venture is led by Hudson, a wholly owned subsidiary of Avolta, with local small business partner Randi Maya Sibonga of MCSB Inc. and ACDBE-certified partners Katherine Lam of Bambuza, Godwin Gabriel of MOOVN Technologies, LLC, and Marques Warren of Warren’s News & Gift Inc. The group has signed a 20-year contract for the spaces.
A Concourse duty-free layout and timeline
The A Concourse will be the first to be upgraded, with approximately 12,000 square feet of new leasable space added for duty-free operations. The main project area is adjacent to the exit from the International Arrivals Facility (IAF) and Gina Marie Lindsey (GML) Hall. With the addition of the IAF, gates on the A Concourse are now internationally capable, which the airport says makes it an ideal location for expanded duty-free services.
The primary duty-free area will sit in the centre of the concourse between Gates A4 and A6. It will include Airport Dining and Retail space, a customer information hub, a music stage and flight information displays throughout. Some of the additional square footage will come from closing five dining and retail locations, as well as opening new space on the concourse and mezzanine levels above GML Hall.
“Duty-free shops are a hallmark of major international airports, and this expansion enables SEA to meet growing demand through innovative use of space and technology that elevates the overall traveller experience,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho.
“This contract also builds in meaningful opportunities for women, minority, and small-owned businesses to continue thriving at SEA, reinforcing our long-standing commitment to supporting and uplifting local entrepreneurs,” he added.
Construction on the A Concourse is expected to start at the end of 2026 and be completed in late 2027. Total estimated project costs for the A Concourse duty-free project are currently between $8 million and $15 million.
Work on the S Concourse will form part of the S Concourse Evolution (SCE) project, which is slated to start multi-year construction in late 2026. The timeline for the duty-free space in the N Concourse is still to be determined. Costs for the other concourse projects will be updated as design plans progress.
“This new duty-free offer, coupled with Hudson’s emphasis on immersive experiences and digital engagement, will transform the travel experience at SEA,” said Steve Johnson, President and CEO, North America, Avolta.
“We are proud and excited to grow our longtime partnership with the Port of Seattle to help usher in the next phase of SEA’s evolution and make the journey as exciting as the destination for the millions of travellers from around the world who visit the airport every year,” he continued.
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