'Tis not the season at Sea-Tac Airport

Story Published: Dec 9, 2006 at 4:37 PM PST

Story Updated: Dec 9, 2006 at 5:05 PM PST

By April Zepeda

There will be no more Christmas trees at Sea-Tac International Airport this season after the Port of Seattle received at least one complaint about them.

For more than 25 years the airport has celebrated the holidays with Christmas trees over its entrances. But overnight the Port of Seattle ordered all 15 trees removed.

"I think it's very unfortunate. Why lose the Christmas spirit? Christmas is for kids," said passenger Lisa Jones.

The Port allowed holiday decorations to remain but decided to take down all the Christmas trees after a Jewish religious leader complained they were offensive.

"It's a Christmas tree! It's not like they were displaying crucifixes or menorahs or anything religious, but Christmas trees that have been around here for years," said one employee, who asked not to be identified.

Angry airport employees have started a campaign urging people to call the Port of Seattle to complain.

The Christmas trees are now in storage or hidden in unused areas of the airport where they won't been seen.

Many passengers say it's overkill.

"Christmas was started 2,000 years ago. It's a shame people can't realize that," said Jerry Green on his way to Anchorage.

The airline companies, which lease space in the airport, have not been required to remove decorations from their check-in counters.

A Port of Seattle spokeswoman said they will revisit the issue of Christmas trees after the holidays are over.

"Since this is the busiest time of year we decided to take the decorations down now and consider a new policy after the new year." said spokeswoman Rachel Garson.

Many airport employees insist the Port of Seattle is caving in to a vocal minority, without considering the other 75,000 people who pass through the airport on any given day.

"If this is the Evergreen state," wondered an employee, "how offensive can an evergreen tree be by simply putting lights on it?"