Portland International Airport (PDX) News

[MarkDaMan]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Well, in better news, a small portion of the new roof is now visible from the old ticketing lobby.

I just flew through there on Saturday and missed it. Damn!

[Bigtimecharlie]

I love how PDX has been developing since the 1980s. I always say that if I ever get stuck at an airport, let it be Portland. I think in many respects Portland punches above its weight with regard to international connections. For a city Portland’s size, we actually have a decent selection of international non-stop options. But we have been and will continue to be overshadowed by Seattle. Mostly, Portland seems to be viewed by airlines as source of passengers to fill Seattle flights. For example, when you have to fly to Seattle first in order to fly to LA, it’s just a head scratcher. For flights like that, there seems to be sufficient local demand. If 6o% of Portland flights didn’t have to go to Seattle first it might help reduce the overcrowding at Sea-Tac.

[uncommon.name]

I didn't see that this had been posted here before. This includes some information on the staged opening of the new Terminal as well as this stunning picture off the new ceiling/roof structure.

Facility improvements progressing at PDX

Construction of a new main terminal at Portland International Airport is ongoing.

Two building permits totaling $16 million were issued earlier this month for the airport. Work involves installation of interior glazing at concession spaces ($12.5 million) and seismic restraints for electrical raceways and equipment as well as seismic anchors for transformers and other equipment ($3.5 million).

ZGF Architects designed the main terminal improvement project for the Port of Portland. Hoffman Skanska Joint Venture is the contractor. Construction crews broke ground in 2021.

“We’re adding roughly half-million square feet in new construction and are renovating and upgrading another approximately one half-million square feet, which collectively will double the footprint of the main terminal,” Port of Portland spokeswoman Allison Ferré stated in an email.

The main terminal will feature 20 new retail spaces operated by local businesses, including Loyal Legion, Grassa and Paper Epiphanies.

Crews have already expanded the terminal by 150 feet to the west, rerouted utilities underground and installed giant Y-shaped columns to support the nine-acre mass-timber roof. Installation of the roof was essentially completed in January.

Two key efforts at the main terminal are under way: installation of glass for the floor-to-ceiling windows and additions of finishing touches on the lattice work for the six oval skylights made with wood sourced from the Coquille Indian Tribe.

“Next up, we’ll peel back a portion of the old ceiling to reveal the new roof and bring in more of the beloved PDX character as we finish building out a new ticket lobby, shops and relaxing common areas,” Ferré stated.

The main terminal will open to the public in two phases. First, in May 2024, the airport will unveil new check-in stations, a garden, new stores and restaurants, a mezzanine, security checkpoints, and the new roof. The connector between concourses B/C and D/C will return during this phase as well.

The second phase, set to begin immediately after completion of the first, will include construction of new exit lanes, a lounge, restrooms, a second group of concessions, and installation of the final roof pieces above those areas. Closing and removing the temporary bypasses will be the last hurdle before the project is completed in 2025...

Continue reading at DJC...

[maccoinnich]

Per this RFP, there's a new common use lounge planned for Concourse D, in a space that was formerly home to a Delta Crown Room (not the the current Sky Club). It looks like the intent is to award the lease to CAVU Experiences. My guess is that they'll do something like the recently opened Escape Lounges - The Centurion Studio Partner at Fort Lauderdale.

When the T-Core project is complete in 2025 there will also be a much larger Alaska lounge between the B and C gates and another common use lounge between the D and E gates.

[maccoinnich]

Via Ishrion Aviation on Twitter/X, Japan Airlines’ low-cost subsidiary ZIPAIR is reportedly considering new North American destinations. The linked article (automatically translated) says that "currently, Las Vegas, Seattle, and Portland are strong candidates, and they are also considering launching flights to Vancouver and increasing flights to San Francisco and Honolulu."

[uncommon.name]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Via Ishrion Aviation on Twitter/X, Japan Airlines’ low-cost subsidiary ZIPAIR is reportedly considering new North American destinations. The linked article (automatically translated) says that "currently, Las Vegas, Seattle, and Portland are strong candidates, and they are also considering launching flights to Vancouver and increasing flights to San Francisco and Honolulu."

Asia connection and a more "affordable" Airline. Yes please. I also did some digging and it looks like this isn't the first time that Zipair has looked at PDX as a potential route from Tokyo. Before COVID, they were considering this route as well.

[maccoinnich]

Here's where to catch your Uber, Lyft or taxi at Portland International Airport
Travelers exiting the airport will head to a new pick-up spot for rideshares and taxis. It will be inside level one of the short-term parking garage.



PORTLAND, Ore. — Travelers arriving at Portland International Airport (PDX) will have a new place to catch an Uber, Lyft or taxi.

Instead of going upstairs, travelers will head to the first floor of the short-term parking garage on Island 2, outside the arrivals level. To avoid rainy weather and crowded crosswalks, travelers can take the tunnel underneath the roadway to directly reach the designated pick-up areas for Uber, Lyft, Wingz and taxis.

...continues at KGW.

[maccoinnich]

TriMet reopens MAX Red Line to PDX after 4-month disruption

TriMet on Sunday reopened service on the MAX Red Line between the Gateway Transit Center and the airport after 126 days of construction and repairs.

That means no more inconvenient shuttle service between the stops — a disruption that added about 30 minutes to people’s trips to Portland International Airport.

The four-month construction project added a second train track to the line near the airport, allowing inbound and outbound trains to pass without having to wait, a spokesperson for TriMet wrote in a press release announcing the reopening Sunday.

The changes to the MAX Red Line aren’t finished. TriMet is also extending the line to Hillsboro, and that work is expected to be done in 2024.

...via the Oregonian.

[downtownpdx]

Originally Posted by uncommon.name

Asia connection and a more "affordable" Airline. Yes please. I also did some digging and it looks like this isn't the first time that Zipair has looked at PDX as a potential route from Tokyo. Before COVID, they were considering this route as well.

Now that Delta finally, officially dropped Tokyo service this addition probably is much more likely.

[PhillyPDX]

Originally Posted by downtownpdx

Now that Delta finally, officially dropped Tokyo service this addition probably is much more likely.

How do international routes work? Don't they need a slot first? PDX slot moved to Houston, correct?

[PhillyPDX]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

...continues at KGW.

Hopefully this flows smoothly. I've yet to leave an airport where the rideshare lines aren't a total cluster. The one location where cabs make so much more sense (queue lines).

[colossalorder]

This is a welcome change. I remember waiting 40 minutes for my lyft at PDX one time. The car was so close, in the queue, but just jammed in traffic.

I wish they would do the same for regular passenger pick up from friends/family. A place in the garage where you could pull in and park temporarily while waiting for your passenger to arrive. Text them "I'm in spot A45 or something" and they meet you there. I suspect a big part of the traffic problem at arrivals is people waiting for their passenger to pop out, so they take up parking spots or drive slowly as possible trying not to get yelled at by the PDX people and having to do that whole giant loop again.

[maccoinnich]

Originally Posted by PhillyPDX

How do international routes work? Don't they need a slot first? PDX slot moved to Houston, correct?

The PDX slot went back to the Department of Transportation, who determine which American carrier gets to operate the slot (based on a treaty with Japan, IIRC). American Airlines also wants it for a JFK-HND flight.

Zipair wouldn't need to go through this process, because their flight would be from Narita which doesn't have the same constraints. The Delta flight from Portland used to operate to Narita, but since Delta dismantled the old Northwest Airlines hub at Narita they've moved all their flying to Haneda.

[dizflip]

Originally Posted by colossalorder

This is a welcome change. I remember waiting 40 minutes for my lyft at PDX one time. The car was so close, in the queue, but just jammed in traffic.

I wish they would do the same for regular passenger pick up from friends/family. A place in the garage where you could pull in and park temporarily while waiting for your passenger to arrive. Text them "I'm in spot A45 or something" and they meet you there. I suspect a big part of the traffic problem at arrivals is people waiting for their passenger to pop out, so they take up parking spots or drive slowly as possible trying not to get yelled at by the PDX people and having to do that whole giant loop again.

That's literally what the 7-floor short-term parking is for. I typically pick up my relatives from the departure deck where it's always pretty empty.

[colossalorder]

Yep, I think many of us are wise to the departures pick up trick. I've never tried the 7th floor of ST parking but I assume that has some hassle, time and cost? I'm thinking of a place that easy, obvious and free. Groundfloor in and out. Basically, this same rideshare set up but for regular folks. I would think it would relieve a lot of congestion on the road and stress in experience.

[uncommon.name]

Originally Posted by colossalorder

Yep, I think many of us are wise to the departures pick up trick. I've never tried the 7th floor of ST parking but I assume that has some hassle, time and cost? I'm thinking of a place that easy, obvious and free. Groundfloor in and out. Basically, this same rideshare set up but for regular folks. I would think it would relieve a lot of congestion on the road and stress in experience.

You can go into the short term parking garage, pull a ticket at the gate, pick up your arrival, then leave within a few minutes and usually they won't charge you at the exit gate if it's only been a few minutes.

[PhillyPDX]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

The PDX slot went back to the Department of Transportation, who determine which American carrier gets to operate the slot (based on a treaty with Japan, IIRC). American Airlines also wants it for a JFK-HND flight.

Zipair wouldn't need to go through this process, because their flight would be from Narita which doesn't have the same constraints. The Delta flight from Portland used to operate to Narita, but since Delta dismantled the old Northwest Airlines hub at Narita they've moved all their flying to Haneda.

Oh ok, I was thinking it was something specific for all international flights. So this is more that airport itself rations slots. I think JFK does something similar?

[maccoinnich]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Per this RFP, there's a new common use lounge planned for Concourse D, in a space that was formerly home to a Delta Crown Room (not the the current Sky Club). It looks like the intent is to award the lease to CAVU Experiences. My guess is that they'll do something like the recently opened Escape Lounges - The Centurion Studio Partner at Fort Lauderdale.

When the T-Core project is complete in 2025 there will also be a much larger Alaska lounge between the B and C gates and another common use lounge between the D and E gates.

The proposed Escape Lounge at PDX will go in front of the Port of Portland Commission next week.

The lounge should open in December 2024, after the first phase of TCORE before the new lounges for Alaska and an as-yet unidentified common use operator.

[downtownpdx]

Thanks for sharing this. I'm guessing on the Alaska side, the express lounge by the B gates is going away once the much larger one is built just to the west of it as part of the tcore expansion? That express lounge makes the B gates (B3-B5) feel pretty cramped. Are they keeping the other lounge on concourse C?

[maccoinnich]

My understanding, which could be wrong, is that the new Alaska lounge would replace the existing lounge at the C gates, and that the express lounge at the B gates is just a stopgap until the new one opens.