Skip to content
The Touch and Go logo
The Touch & GoCategoryAirports

Category landing page

Airports

The latest airportsnews from The Touch & Go — original aviation coverage with clear source attribution.

Category RSSAll stories RSS
Airline jets lined up at multiple gates at Los Angeles International Airport under a clear sky
AirportsJun 9, 10:45 AM

A Long, Tortured History of Airlines Trying to Win LAX

There are dominant airlines in nearly every airport in the US, even those that are the most competitive. You have Delta at LaGuardia and JFK, United at Newark and Chicago/O'Hare, Alaska in Seattle, and the list goes on. But there is one airport that nobody has ever been able to conquer, and that's Los Angeles...

Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-900 in retro livery arriving at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport during inaugural flight event
AirportsApr 3, 6:37 PM

Cathay Pacific Returns to Seattle and Throws One Heck of a Party

Over the years, I have covered quite a few inaugural flights into Seattle. They are always a hoot, but often there aren't many surprises. Well, when Cathay Pacific Airlines did an inaugural flight to Seattle (SEA) from Hong Kong (HKG) on March 30, they did things a bit differently, and in a grand way. Not only did I get to experience the normal excitement of being on the ramp to greet the aircraft, but there was also a fun surprise at the gate; plus the airline held a grand gala event later in the evening. The day started when I awoke and opened FlightRadar24 to see which aircraft was en route. As expected, it was an Airbus A350-900, and it had registration B-LRJ. Then I noticed the photo: it was the retro livery. Booya! I quickly got some AvGeek goose bumps (yes, that is a thing). The airline calls it the "lettuce sandwich" retro livery and it has a special place in my AvGeek heart. Long before the internet was a thing, I remember looking at L1011s in that very livery in one of my airline books. It was one of my favorites. I never got the chance to see it in person, so here was my opportunity. And, it was extra special because this was also the first time that this retro livery would be flying to the U.S.

Glassed-in observation deck overlooking Seattle-Tacoma runway and taxiways with planes and terminal in view
AirportsDec 13, 10:02 PM

SEA's Concourse C expansion to include an airside observation deck

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. 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. 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.

A traveler meets a smiling visitor at an airport gate behind security checkpoints.
AirportsNov 18, 9:10 PM

Travel Back In Time With SEA's Visitor Pass Program

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.