Air travel through Sea-Tac airport is slowly rebuilding, resources for Washingtonians waiting for unemployment benefits, and more from this week’s Seattle in the Spotlight.

Air Travel Through Sea-Tac Airport is Slowly Rebuilding | Coronavirus Economy Chart

Seattle Times | Rami Grunbaum | July 2

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/air-travel-through-seatac-is-slowly-rebuilding/

“Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has seen passenger volumes multiply from their historic low levels of April 2020, but they remain far below the levels of February before the coronavirus interrupted Sea-Tac’s growth streak. In the reopening, airline flights have rebounded more quickly than passenger counts. Aircraft takeoffs and landings at Sea-Tac have been above 50% of February levels for the past two weeks, while passenger volumes are at 30% of their recent peak and 21% of their year-ago levels.”

Resources for Washingtonians Waiting for Unemployment Benefits

KING 5 | Michelle Li (KING5) | June 29

https://www.king5.com/article/money/your-money-your-future/resources-washingtonians-waiting-unemployment-benefits/281-13c3a17f-c40d-42fb-ad8d-a05d509e7dce

“Thousands of Washingtonians are still waiting for their unemployment benefits as the state Employment Security Department (ESD) sorts through a backlog of claims. Some residents have said they are starting to feel desperate and don’t know how they will pay bills as we approach July…KING 5 receives emails each week from viewers like Dany who are waiting for their unemployment benefits and don’t know that to do. But there are some resources out there that can help.”

Seattle Rises Three Spots, Cracks the Top 10 in Annual Global Startup Ecosystem Rankings

GeekWire | Taylor Soper | June 26

https://www.geekwire.com/2020/seattle-rises-three-spots-cracks-top-10-annual-global-startup-ecosystem-rankings/

“Seattle jumped three spots and moved into the top 10 of Startup Genome’s annual global startup ecosystem rankings. The list ranks cities based on seven “success factors”: performance, funding, market reach, talent, connectedness, knowledge, and infrastructure. “The ranking is primarily driven by one question: In which ecosystems will an early-stage startup have the best chance of building global success?” the report notes…Startup Genome called out Seattle’s strengths in AI, big data, and analytics, as well as the city’s life sciences industry.”