HMSHost files layoff notice as Sea-Tac Terminal A Starbucks contract ends

Overview

Updated 57 minutes ago

HMSHost filed a layoff notice with Washington state on October 23, covering 135 Starbucks workers in Seattle. Thirteen are at the Terminal A location inside Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which closes when its airport contract expires December 31.

The closure follows the airport's request-for-proposals process, in which the Port of Seattle did not renew HMSHost's Terminal A contract. Starbucks called it a 'SeaTac concession decision,' not a corporate closure — the company still runs four other stores at the airport.

Why it matters

Airport food-service jobs are tied to concession contracts that airports re-bid; when a contract ends, workers lose jobs even if the airport is busy.

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Key Indicators

135

Workers covered by WARN notice

HMSHost filing covers baristas, utility workers, and managers at Seattle-area Starbucks locations.

Terminal A positions eliminated

Layoffs at the closing airport location are scheduled between Dec. 31 and Jan. 13.

Starbucks locations remaining at SEA

Down from 5 before the Terminal A store closes.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Organizations Involved

HMSHost

Airport concessions operator (subsidiary of Avolta)

Filing WARN notice; closing Terminal A Starbucks on December 31

HMSHost operates food and beverage concessions at airports, including the Starbucks locations at Seattle-Tacoma.

Port of Seattle

Public port authority

Conducted RFP for airport concessions; did not renew Terminal A contract

The Port of Seattle owns and operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and runs competitive bidding for concession space.

Starbucks

Coffee company

Brand owner; continues operating 4 other SEA locations; not party to the closure decision

Starbucks is a global coffee chain whose concessions at Sea-Tac are operated by HMSHost, not by Starbucks itself.

Timeline

September 2026 December 2026

3 events Latest: 6 days ago

December 2026
Terminal A Starbucks closes; layoffs begin
Upcoming Closure

Planned permanent closure of the Sea-Tac Terminal A location; layoffs continue through January 13.
December 31st, 2026
October 2026
HMSHost files WARN notice for 135 workers
Latest Legal Filing

Notice covers 135 Starbucks workers in Seattle, including 13 at the closing Terminal A store at Sea-Tac.
6 days ago
September 2026
Starbucks announces Washington closures
Statement

Five Starbucks stores in Seattle, Redmond, Spokane, and Vancouver added to 250-store North American closure plan.
September 24th, 2026

Scenarios

Layoffs Proceed as Filed: All 135 Workers Out

Likely Resolves by Jan 31, 2027

Discussed by: WARN notice itself; reporting by KOMO News, KIRO 7, and MyNorthwest

If no transfers materialize, HMSHost lays off all 135 workers across its Seattle Starbucks locations between December 31 and January 13. The WARN notice lists baristas, utility workers, and managers. The Terminal A closure accounts for 13; the remaining 122 come from other Seattle-area sites not yet specified.

Transfers Cap Actual Layoffs Below Notice

Possible Resolves by Jan 31, 2027

Discussed by: KIRO Newsradio and MyNorthwest, citing Starbucks' transfer-and-severance policy

Starbucks said it will transfer employees to other stores if possible or provide severance support. If many of the 135 accept transfers to other HMSHost-run Starbucks or other airport locations, actual layoffs fall below the WARN notice figure, which is a statutory maximum, not a minimum.

Port of Seattle Awards Terminal A Space to New Operator

Unlikely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Not yet reported; speculative based on standard airport RFP practice

The airport's RFP process for the Terminal A concession space could award the spot to another operator, who might hire some displaced HMSHost workers. Starbucks said it 'hopes to work with the airport to expand our presence' — a new contract could bring Starbucks back under a different operator.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

September 2025

Starbucks September 2025 store closures

Under CEO Brian Niccol, who joined in 2024, Starbucks closed 627 stores in North America and Europe in a single round. Company Chief Operating Officer Mike Grams said the locations weren't delivering acceptable financial results or couldn't provide the experience Starbucks wanted.

Then

Starbucks shed over 600 locations in its largest closure round in years, beginning a wave of store rationalization.

Now

Niccol continued pruning, announcing 250 more North American closures in September 2026, and retrofitting 1,500 stores by the end of fiscal 2026.

Why this matters now

Contrasts with the Sea-Tac closure: Starbucks' corporate closures are driven by store performance, while the Terminal A closure is driven by the airport's concession contract re-bid, not by Starbucks.

September-October 2026

Starbucks October 2026 closure of 250 stores

Starbucks announced 250 North American store closures in September 2026, then confirmed five Washington locations on September 24, affecting 51 workers in Seattle, Redmond, Spokane, and Vancouver.

Then

The Washington closures were scheduled between November 14 and December 4, 2026, with some employees offered transfers.

Now

Part of the same performance-driven retrenchment under Niccol that will leave Starbucks with a smaller, retrofitted North American footprint.

Why this matters now

These closures are Starbucks' own decisions based on underperformance; the Sea-Tac Terminal A closure is a separate, airport-driven concession decision affecting HMSHost workers.