Portland International Airport (PDX) News

[maccoinnich]

Per Ishrion Aviation on Bluesky: the changes to the Hawaiian / Alaska schedules will result in a 24.3% increase in capacity between Portland and Honolulu. I guess this is the start of Alaska’s plans to grow at PDX by turning it into a “huge connecting complex”.

[PhillyPDX]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Per Ishrion Aviation on Bluesky: the changes to the Hawaiian / Alaska schedules will result in a 24.3% increase in capacity between Portland and Honolulu. I guess this is the start of Alaska’s plans to grow at PDX by turning it into a “huge connecting complex”.

I’m curious to see prices after merger. No more competition.

[babs]

Originally Posted by PhillyPDX

I’m curious to see prices after merger. No more competition.

I hope Southwest sees the opportunity and jumps into the market to offer some price competition for Alaska.

[maccoinnich]

Portland Airport Eyes Flights To Seoul & Tokyo: Talks With Delta, Korean Air & Japan Airlines



Officials from the Port of Portland, which manages Portland International Airport (PDX), have unveiled that they will meet with representatives of Delta Air Lines and Korean Air, as well as Japan Airlines, to potentially launch a direct connection between Portland and Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Tokyo.

Focusing on flights to Seoul

In an update during a December Port Commission meeting on December 11, David Zielke, the Director of Air Service Development of the Port of Portland, said that the organization’s primary focus was Korean Air’s hub at Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN), which would be the potential gateway to the rest of Asia.

Zielke noted that Delta Air Lines and Korean Air have a joint venture (JV) similar to the one on flights to Europe, with Air France, Delta Air Lines, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic launching the partnership in February 2020.

...continues at Simple Flying.

[PhillyPDX]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

...continues at Simple Flying.

A few things are interesting. Long standing relationship with SkyTeam is why they are further along with talking to them? But Oneworld has Alaska, surely there is good history there as well, right? I’m not even sure how this all works, do they negotiate with alliances now, or airlines?

Japan Airlines would be good to connect to the strong American and Alaska domestic network from PDX, but that could cannibalize growth in Seattle (and then, Alaska could have chosen to fly international from PDX, but chose not to).

Interesting how weak Star Alliance is at PDX.

[downtownpdx]

Yeah United doesn't have a lot of market share in the PNW in general. Used to be the largest airline at PDX, maybe 30 or 40 years ago, then Delta formed its Asian hub (which evaporated in the early 2000s), then Alaska grew into the dominant carrier.

It does seem like JAL would be the most obvious choice for an Asian nonstop, considering One World partner Alaska's PDX hub, and especially since that hub seems poised to grow massively in the next few years. Delta would be the feed for Korean Air/SkyTeam, but there aren't nearly as many domestic routes offered compared to Alaska. But the Seoul flight for that option apparently offers much better Asian connections than Tokyo-Narita through JAL. Just hope one (or both, in dream world haha) happens soon.

[PhillyPDX]

Originally Posted by downtownpdx

Yeah United doesn't have a lot of market share in the PNW in general. Used to be the largest airline at PDX, maybe 30 or 40 years ago, then Delta formed its Asian hub (which evaporated in the early 2000s), then Alaska grew into the dominant carrier.

It does seem like JAL would be the most obvious choice for an Asian nonstop, considering One World partner Alaska's PDX hub, and especially since that hub seems poised to grow massively in the next few years. Delta would be the feed for Korean Air/SkyTeam, but there aren't nearly as many domestic routes offered compared to Alaska. But the Seoul flight for that option apparently offers much better Asian connections than Tokyo-Narita through JAL. Just hope one (or both, in dream world haha) happens soon.

Just do both routes! We already have the KLM Skyteam to Europe and BA Oneworld to Europe. Let's have one each to Asia too.

[downtownpdx]

That would be awesome. They were about to start Seoul in 2019 already, alongside an existing Tokyo flight. Travel to Asia from PDX is down quite a bit from that year but I’m sure as mac pointed out that’s in some part due to cancelled nonstop service.

[maccoinnich]

Via Ishrion Aviation on BlueSky

Alaska Airlines recently said it planned to grow Portland (PDX) into a “major connecting complex”.

As part of this, some routes from PDX will receive more frequencies:

• ANC 3x -> 5x daily
• AUS 1x -> 2x daily
• FAT 3x -> 4x daily
• SMF 3x -> 4x daily
• RDM 2x -> 3x daily
• MFR 2x -> 4x daily
• YVR 1x -> 2x daily

PDX’s departure banks next summer will focus on times around 7:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM, and 9:30 PM

Hawaiian Airlines’ 3x daily PDX-HNL also focus on these banks. (2/2)

[PhillyPDX]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Via Ishrion Aviation on BlueSky

Is that another name for a “hub”? Which Alaska already considers PDX to be…

So they are bumping vs Vancouver to 2x/day? This spring they were cancelling those flights. Good news.

Looks like 8 new flights? I wonder which routes they are pulling the aircraft from.

[downtownpdx]

Great to see this. I’d imagine more currently unserved destinations will be announced in the next year. And the more connections through PDX, the stronger case to be made for Asian nonstop and added European frequency.

[maccoinnich]

This is a fascinating look at what Alaska Airlines is planning to do in order to route more connections through PDX. Also includes some discussion up the page about how Alaska is making Hawaiian's network more efficient.

Portland Gets Banked

Over on the Alaska side of the house, the airline has decided to turn Portland into a real banked hub instead of the modified rolling-style hub. The latter is better for utilization of airport resources, but the former is generally far better from a commercial perspective. Alaska has relied on Seattle as its big hub, but now it wants Portland to step up and take more connections.

Hereʻs a look at a chart we did for this weekʻs Cranky Network Weekly.



As you can see, there are now five clear banks of flying and very little in between. To make this work, Alaska needs more gates and quite likely more employees. I assume that this is all now possible since the airport’s big renovation project is done. Alaska just had to decide it was worth the investment.

...continues at Cranky Flier.

[PhillyPDX]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

This is a fascinating look at what Alaska Airlines is planning to do in order to route more connections through PDX. Also includes some discussion up the page about how Alaska is making Hawaiian's network more efficient.



...continues at Cranky Flier.

Good for plane spotting…maybe not so good for security lines an hour before each bank.

[downtownpdx]

Just thought I'd share this PDX Google review from yesterday. I know it doesn't have much impact on total passenger volume, but having a beautiful, well-planned airport can actually draw in additional traffic:

https://www.google.com/search?q=portland...=0x5495a0aa74dc20d1:0x5bda7693380e5c3d,1,,,,

This Portland PDX airport is awesome. I used to use SEATAC in Washington State. PDX takes me an extra hour to drive to, but I will chose PDX every time. It’s worth it. It’s very spacious and there’s always a quiet space to find if you need it. The staff is WONDERFUL. I ALWAYS have a calm light hearted experience - the way a travel experience should be. And the usual live piano music is stellar. Adds to the great experience. Contrasts greatly to SEATAC which has always been a stressful experience with grumpy staff and outlandish parking fees.

[subterranean]

I hate to be negative, and maybe I just need to see this place in person to truly appreciate it, but from the photos and videos I've seen...I just don't think I like it very much. I was so excited by the renderings but it doesn't look like it delivered what my mind's eye thought it would be. The wood and the trees and the carpet just looks so gaudy and dark to me. I don't expect anyone to agree. I'm still happy it's done and the flow has been rethought, but it's just not for me in terms of aesthetic.

[downtownpdx]

I’d say there a few spots where it’s darker than it should be for some reason, and the pre security shops aren’t all nicely lined up like the old Oregon Market hall. But there is a nice flow, and an open, natural, calming feel to the terminal. The ceiling really is beautiful. When phase 2 is finished, the rest of the main terminal by the departure road will open up, the temporary walls will come down post security and the current kiosks (like Powell and Straightaway Cocktails) will move into finished spaces, and the detour hallways on the north and south sides will come down and stop blocking the giant windows looking onto the tarmac. The only place I noticed the carpet was on the mezzanine level next to Loyal Legion. The main floor is all oak and marble.

[subterranean]

Good points, hopefully it feels airier when the temp walls come down.

[maccoinnich]

The Escape Lounge at PDX has applied for a liquor license. Opening hours are shown as 4:30 AM to 11:30 PM. The application is for a full license, which means they have to serve at least five different meals (something that not every lounge at PDX has always done).

Both BA and Condor have been sending their customers to the United Club; I wonder if they'll switch to contracting with the Escape Lounge? Icelandair doesn't currently offer lounge access to their Portland departing customers, but presumably could once the Escape Lounge opens (if they use the D gates for departures). I assume KLM would prefer to keep using the Delta Sky Club, given the close connection between the two airlines.

[PhillyPDX]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

The Escape Lounge at PDX has applied for a liquor license. Opening hours are shown as 4:30 AM to 11:30 PM. The application is for a full license, which means they have to serve at least five different meals (something that not every lounge at PDX has always done).

Both BA and Condor have been sending their customers to the United Club; I wonder if they'll switch to contracting with the Escape Lounge? Icelandair doesn't currently offer lounge access to their Portland departing customers, but presumably could once the Escape Lounge opens (if they use the D gates for departures). I assume KLM would prefer to keep using the Delta Sky Club, given the close connection between the two airlines.

Five different meals?

[maccoinnich]

Originally Posted by PhillyPDX

Five different meals?

As opposed snacks like bowls of salted nuts, etc. If that's all they serve to eat, they can't serve anything alcoholic to drink other than wine, beer and cider.