Portland International Airport (PDX) News

[downtownpdx]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Starting at 56:40 there's an agenda item regarding purchase of security lanes, which includes an interesting update on the progress made in the made in the last year and what's to come in the next.

• Video Link

Thanks for sharing this, sounds like the current roof is getting removed and the new one will actually be visible, partially, in the ticket lobby in the next few months.

[maccoinnich]

Alaska Airlines Adds Portland To Miami Flights



Alaska Airlines adds second route to Miami

In June 2022, Alaska Airlines launched a route between Seattle (SEA) and Miami (MIA). Prior to that, the airline consolidated all of its South Florida flying in Fort Lauderdale (FLL). I was happy to see the expansion to Miami:

• While technically co-terminal, I’d consider Miami and Fort Lauderdale to be different markets; I won’t fly out of Fort Lauderdale unless the savings are significant
• With Alaska and American both being in oneworld and having a close partnership, it made sense for Alaska to serve an American hub

I guess service to Miami has proven a success, as the airline is now launching a second route to the airport, as flagged by @IshrionA. As of November 17, 2023, Alaska will add a daily, year-round nonstop flight between Portland (PDX) and Miami (MIA). The flight will operate with the following schedule:

AS441 Portland to Miami departing 10:00PM arriving 6:40AM (+1 day)
AS440 Miami to Portland departing 8:00AM arriving 11:45AM

...continues at One Mile at a Time.

[baloneyjoe]

It looks like American is jumping in too - AA will be starting daily nonstop service between PDX and MIA starting November 5, 2023 (just 2 weeks before AS will be starting the same route)
Details in Ben Schlappig's article from earlier today over at One mile at a time: https://onemileatatime.com/news/american-airlines-miami-portland-route/

[subterranean]

I wish we could get more than one direct flight to Detroit, these Delta prices are killing me.

[uncommon.name]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

...continues at One Mile at a Time.

I love that we are getting the route, but that is a brutal in-bound flight. 10pm EST to 6am PST (redeye) is the best time slot they could give us? lol

Edit: I read the article *brilliant idea!* lol... It changes in January:

Then as of January 8, 2024, the flight will operate with the following schedule:

AS441 Portland to Miami departing 9:00AM arriving 5:40PM
AS440 Miami to Portland departing 6:45PM arriving 10:30PM

[maccoinnich]

It looks like Delta has until October to decide whether to start flying to Tokyo Haneda from Portland, or give up the Haneda landing slot.

[uncommon.name]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

It looks like Delta has until October to decide whether to start flying to Tokyo Haneda from Portland, or give up the Haneda landing slot.

I sure hope they don't let that route slip. That could be a good one for PDX, especially since there is not currently a PDX to Asia direct passenger flight.

That said, I do now see that you can start booking Delta Airlines PDX to Seoul direct flights starting March 30, 2024!

[bvpcvm]

Originally Posted by uncommon.name

That said, I do now see that you can start booking Delta Airlines PDX to Seoul direct flights starting March 30, 2024!

Yeah, for $3500rt

https://www.google.com/travel/flights/s/9ntgc71XSEZeFDZ4A

[uncommon.name]

Originally Posted by bvpcvm

Yeah, for $3500rt

https://www.google.com/travel/flights/s/9ntgc71XSEZeFDZ4A

Yep, there is a good chance as discussed in the past, that they are trying to show low demand for this route so they can get out of it, by jacking up the prices.

[downtownpdx]

They're afraid of cannibalizing their hub in Seattle, so pdx passengers end up connecting through there. But there's healthy demand for Europe travel from pdx, and hopefully pent up demand for Asia will result in a non stop or two soon. At reasonable prices!

[maccoinnich]

My guess is that Delta eventually operates to Tokyo or Seoul, but not both. Now that Delta has dismantled the old Northwest hub at Tokyo, the flight from Portland to Tokyo is no longer good for connections to elsewhere in Asia (whereas Seoul is). But there's probably not currently demand for two transpacific flights.

[Jakz]

Progress at the new terminal:




https://ibb.co/nb4r5dL
https://ibb.co/WPdDYsh

[downtownpdx]

Thanks for sharing, nice to see those curtain walls move into place. Starting to look like a real terminal !

[PhillyPDX]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

My guess is that Delta eventually operates to Tokyo or Seoul, but not both. Now that Delta has dismantled the old Northwest hub at Tokyo, the flight from Portland to Tokyo is no longer good for connections to elsewhere in Asia (whereas Seoul is). But there's probably not currently demand for two transpacific flights.

Since Alaska and American partner together, and Delta is pushing hard into Seattle, why not get a few international American flights (Asia) out of PDX? Connect into Alaska network here, and helps avoid the too-busy SeaTac airport (prob cheaper too?).

Just connected through SEA last week, man that place has gotten huge and busy. Seems like PDX could be at an advantage to provide better slots.

[uncommon.name]

Originally Posted by PhillyPDX

Since Alaska and American partner together, and Delta is pushing hard into Seattle, why not get a few international American flights (Asia) out of PDX? Connect into Alaska network here, and helps avoid the too-busy SeaTac airport (prob cheaper too?).

Just connected through SEA last week, man that place has gotten huge and busy. Seems like PDX could be at an advantage to provide better slots.

Agreed. Also of note is that the new International Terminal at SEA is over-capacity due to design flaw, so it can't accomodate as many planes as they planned for. PDX is the perfect Airport for taking on some of the Asian flights.

[Jakz]

Originally Posted by uncommon.name

Agreed. Also of note is that the new International Terminal at SEA is over-capacity due to design flaw, so it can't accomodate as many planes as they planned for. PDX is the perfect Airport for taking on some of the Asian flights.

I have wondered if, with a true HSR line, PDX couldn't serve as a more general relief valve for Sea-Tac. PDX definitely has some spare capacity, and in theory, it would be possible to get from downtown Seattle to PDX in an hour. It might be more politically feasible than building a second airport near Seattle too. Of course it would cost more--$40B instead of $14B. But it would have many other benefits, and $14B would be a good chunk of it.

[uncommon.name]

More Americans are flying than before the pandemic (but not at PDX)
Updated: Jun. 25, 2023, 1:26 p.m.|Published: Jun. 25, 2023, 7:07 a.m.
By Mike Rogoway | The Oregonian/OregonLive

U.S. air travel finally topped pre-pandemic levels this year, erasing a historic decline and fueling a broad rebound for the airline industry and tourism.

It’s a different story at Portland International Airport, where passenger volumes are still nearly 18% below 2019. It’s one more way in which Portland has been slower than other parts of the country to return to normal after COVID-19.

Approximately 1.4 million people flew through Portland last month, up 7% from May 2022 and the highest tally in 40 months. The Port of Portland, which runs PDX, says June has been even busier – recording 7 of the airport’s 8 busiest days since the pandemic this month.

Those are hopeful signs but severely lag the national figures, which show air travel through the first five months of the year was up slightly from 2019.

What’s holding PDX back?... Continue reading on Oregonlive...

I personally think that PDX would also greatly benefit from adding more direct flights to Southern California. I took my daughter to Disneyland for her Sweet 16 last week and had to connect in San Jose (on the way down) and Sacramento (return flight) through Southwest Airlines, to get to either LGB or Santa Ana. I know some routes are being added back with direct flights to those airports soon, but it seems like those would have been some of the earlier routes that airlines would have snatched up, post-pandemic. There are a lot of people in the Portland area with connections to Southern California so that seems like a no-brainer.

On a side note: That trip was the first time I've been to SJC... man PDX makes that place look like a dumpster.

[downtownpdx]

Delete

[downtownpdx]

20230714_123745 by Ryan Miller, on Flickr

[Jakz]

Some recent progress photos here:

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/portland-international-airport-pdx-new-main-terminal-building