Portland International Airport (PDX) News

[Tanaka07]

Alaska Airlines starting nonstop PDX-Salt Lake service

Starts June 9, 2014 2 times daily

The Portland-Salt Lake Service begins Monday, June 9 with a late-day flight (on the schedule below), then commences twice daily flights the next day:



http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.s...begins_twice_d.html#incart_more_business

[downtownpdx]

Alaska Airlines begins twice daily service between Portland, Salt Lake City in June

http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2013/12/alaska_airlines_begins_twice_d.html#incart_river

By Terry Richard | [email protected] The Oregonian
on December 06, 2013 at 9:19 AM, updated December 06, 2013 at 9:25 AM

Alaska Airlines is bumping up its presence in Salt Lake City in a big way by expanding current service from Seattle with the addition of new service from Portland, Los Angeles, San Diego (and a third daily flight from Seattle).

The Portland-Salt Lake Service begins Monday, June 9 with a late-day flight (on the schedule below), then commences twice daily flights the next day ...

[MarkDaMan]

Travelers soon to be greeted by new carpet at PDX's airport
By Lincoln Graves KATU News Published: Nov 26, 2013 at 5:01 PM PST Last Updated: Nov 27, 2013 at 2:11 AM PST

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Travelers...ew-carpet-at-PDXs-airport-233546621.html

...

Travelers who are new to town may notice some strange behavior on the part of locals. They might witness those folks stop in the terminal, take their cameras or phones out, and snap a picture of their feet on the floor. Anyone who does it is documenting the telltale sign of "coming home" – stepping foot on the airport's signature carpet.

"There is quite a cult following here at the airport," said airport spokeswoman Annie Linstrom. "It's the first thing travelers see as they get off the airplane. I really feel like there's an emotional attachment, an emotional connection."

It's a connection that's best expressed on social media. The airport carpet has its own Facebook page. The homecoming photos that people take end up on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag, #pdxcarpet. It's downright weird. But "weird" is part of Portland’s identity – and it gets weirder.

Jeremy Dunn designed bright green socks with the carpet's signature pattern emblazoned on them. He never could have imagined how they'd sell.

"I made a small run of them just to sell to my friends," said Jeremy. "Now we can't keep up with the number of orders that we've got."

Zane Gunderson designed a T-shirt with the design and found literal overnight success.

"I went to sleep, woke up, and sold over a hundred shirts," said Zane. "I wasn't expecting that."

...

The old carpet has been trampled on for 20 years and is showing its age. PDX staff know they're getting rid of an icon, but even admirers say it's time.

"It's a ratty old carpet," said Jeremy.

The hope is that lightning will strike twice.

"We want this to resonate with passengers over time and become like home to them," Linstrom said of the new design. "I know it's a little bit different. It's a little bit more modern, but it's still home sweet home."

The airport won't start installing the new carpet for another year. It will take into 2016 for the installation to be finished.

...

[65MAX]

aaaaand.... have they unveiled the new design?

[RainDog]

Originally Posted by 65MAX

aaaaand.... have they unveiled the new design?

It was in the article.

[Tanaka07]

Southwest starting nonstops to Baltimore, Houston and San Diego from PDX

Start June 2014

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index...es_starts_nons.html#incart_river_default

[Derek]

Awesome! Now I can visit my mom in San Diego without having to stop in Oakland, Reno or San Jose.

[rsbear]

Originally Posted by Derek

Awesome! Now I can visit my mom in San Diego without having to stop in Oakland, Reno or San Jose.

Alaska currently has three non-stop flights a day between PDX and SAN and Spirit has one so this new service on SW will bring the total to six - most ever non-stops between the two cities.

[Derek]

Yeah but I have miles on Southwest.


Hopefully this growth at the airport continues!

[tworivers]

Paris, London, and Beijing, please.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Tanaka07

Southwest starting nonstops to Baltimore, Houston and San Diego from PDX

Start June 2014

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index...es_starts_nons.html#incart_river_default

Not mentioned in the article, but more than likely related, is that Portland (and Seattle) is losing it's Reno flight on SWA.

SWA is also adding the three new nonstops listed above in the article from Seattle.

[Tanaka07]

PDX breaks passenger record: 15 million in 2013

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/morning_call/2014/01/how-15-million-people-helped-portland.html

"Last year was a big one for Portland International Airport.
The airport broke a record for passengers, serving 15 million travelers. That previous record was 14.7 million set in 2007.
PDX attributed the record to a huge December, expanded routes and the improving economy.
More new routes are on the way this year, with flights to San Diego, Baltimore, Houston and Salt Lake City on tap.
The passenger record continues a string of wins for the airport. Travel+Leisure magazine in October ranked PDX No. 1 on its list of America's top airports."

[urbanlife]

That is awesome news for the best airport in the country!

[pdxlexus]

I would guess that most of that passenger increase came from LCC like Spirit, Virgin and Southwest.

Back in the late 80’s and through the 90’s Delta had a major operation at PDX, serving as their Asian gateway with flights to Narita, Osaka, Seoul and Taipei and all the feeder routes to serve those flights. Delta even had a major air freight terminal. With the economic downturn in Asia around 2000 and Portland reputation as “de-Portland” those flight all but evaporated.

Today those flights have all been moved to Seattle. There are 4 to 5 unused gates capable of hand ling wide-body plane at the end of Concourse D and the Delta freight terminal is abandoned. Today PDX only survives as an international airport because of a few subsidized weekly flights to Amsterdam and Tokyo and some regional service to Vancouver, BC.

Once you get out of the United States, most Europeans and Asian haven’t a clue that Portland exists or where is located. PDX will remain a second tier airport and never be major hub

[bvpcvm]

Originally Posted by pdxlexus

Today PDX only survives as an international airport because of a few subsidized weekly flights to Amsterdam and Tokyo and some regional service to Vancouver, BC.

Those are daily flights

[pdxtraveler]

Originally Posted by pdxlexus

I would guess that most of that passenger increase came from LCC like Spirit, Virgin and Southwest.

Back in the late 80’s and through the 90’s Delta had a major operation at PDX, serving as their Asian gateway with flights to Narita, Osaka, Seoul and Taipei and all the feeder routes to serve those flights. Delta even had a major air freight terminal. With the economic downturn in Asia around 2000 and Portland reputation as “de-Portland” those flight all but evaporated.

Today those flights have all been moved to Seattle. There are 4 to 5 unused gates capable of hand ling wide-body plane at the end of Concourse D and the Delta freight terminal is abandoned. Today PDX only survives as an international airport because of a few subsidized weekly flights to Amsterdam and Tokyo and some regional service to Vancouver, BC.

Once you get out of the United States, most Europeans and Asian haven’t a clue that Portland exists or where is located. PDX will remain a second tier airport and never be major hub

Southwest actually cut back last year, Spirit is doing so/so, Virgin is struggling (unfortunately I really like them!!). Most growth in numbers is from Alaska and Horizon, they really boosted their numbers. American brought back Chicago O'Hare. So really it isn't the low cost. And I believe the subsidy on at least the Tokyo flight ran out a couple years ago and Delta said they had the business to keep us onboard.

And I think you will find that Portland's reputation is growing in Europe and Asia. I know Lufthansa did a lot of promotions in Germany before they moved to Seattle.

[WestCoast]

Originally Posted by pdxlexus

I would guess that most of that passenger increase came from LCC like Spirit, Virgin and Southwest.

Back in the late 80’s and through the 90’s Delta had a major operation at PDX, serving as their Asian gateway with flights to Narita, Osaka, Seoul and Taipei and all the feeder routes to serve those flights. Delta even had a major air freight terminal. With the economic downturn in Asia around 2000 and Portland reputation as “de-Portland” those flight all but evaporated.

Today those flights have all been moved to Seattle. There are 4 to 5 unused gates capable of hand ling wide-body plane at the end of Concourse D and the Delta freight terminal is abandoned. Today PDX only survives as an international airport because of a few subsidized weekly flights to Amsterdam and Tokyo and some regional service to Vancouver, BC.

Once you get out of the United States, most Europeans and Asian haven’t a clue that Portland exists or where is located. PDX will remain a second tier airport and never be major hub

The above analysis leaves a lot to be desired.


- Sure PDX will never be a major hub in the realm of ORD/DEN/DFW. It's relatively small size and geographic location ensure that.

- The Delta hub at PDX was the result of DL not having the aircraft physically capable of ATL-Asia, etc. The MD11 didn't have the range for that, so they made the most of it and had it stock in PDX.
When they got better planes with more range, they could bypass PDX.
The deportland reputation and downtown in Asia certainly didn't help, but the PDX stop was because they had to stop somewhere.

- I don't believe the AMS route has ever been subsidized. I could be wrong (subsidies are defined different ways. Sometimes reduced landing fees, etc, or sometimes direct cash support), but I don't recall reading that in the Port of Portland notes.

- NRT was heavily subsidized, but I believe that ended in 2011 or 12. If this route is in jeopardy (which I believe it is), it is because of the DL shift to SEA AND the fact that they are more and more overflying NRT into Asia.
I don't doubt Korean would fly ICN-PDX if Delta left the route.

- Listen, if you think this city has a tiny international reputation, you're crazy.
I hate on our home city as much as the next guy, but it certainly isn't 'unknown' Yes, much less tourism will flow to Portland than some other West Coast cities, but it's not like Boise...


Airline route management (and yield management) is a complicated business.
Portland airport has added service and a record number of enplanements. Let's enjoy that and look forward to further additions (and hope all the international service sticks around!)

[rsbear]

Originally Posted by WestCoast

The above analysis leaves a lot to be desired.


- Sure PDX will never be a major hub in the realm of ORD/DEN/DFW. It's relatively small size and geographic location ensure that.

- The Delta hub at PDX was the result of DL not having the aircraft physically capable of ATL-Asia, etc. The MD11 didn't have the range for that, so they made the most of it and had it stock in PDX.
When they got better planes with more range, they could bypass PDX.
The deportland reputation and downtown in Asia certainly didn't help, but the PDX stop was because they had to stop somewhere.

- I don't believe the AMS route has ever been subsidized. I could be wrong (subsidies are defined different ways. Sometimes reduced landing fees, etc, or sometimes direct cash support), but I don't recall reading that in the Port of Portland notes.

- NRT was heavily subsidized, but I believe that ended in 2011 or 12. If this route is in jeopardy (which I believe it is), it is because of the DL shift to SEA AND the fact that they are more and more overflying NRT into Asia.
I don't doubt Korean would fly ICN-PDX if Delta left the route.

- Listen, if you think this city has a tiny international reputation, you're crazy.
I hate on our home city as much as the next guy, but it certainly isn't 'unknown' Yes, much less tourism will flow to Portland than some other West Coast cities, but it's not like Boise...


Airline route management (and yield management) is a complicated business.
Portland airport has added service and a record number of enplanements. Let's enjoy that and look forward to further additions (and hope all the international service sticks around!)

Thank you for this.

[davehogan]

Originally Posted by pdxtraveler

Southwest actually cut back last year...

To be fair, they're still shedding overlapping markets from the AirTran acquisition.

[65MAX]

Originally Posted by pdxlexus

PDX will remain a second tier airport and never be major hub

Second tier, huh? Is that why we're always rated #1 in US airport rankings? And I don't know what your definition of "major" hub is, but Alaska certainly seems to think we are.