Portland International Airport (IATA:PDX,ICAO:KPDX,FAALID:PDX) is a joint civil–military airport and the largest airport in the U.S. state ofOregon, accounting for 90% of the state's passenger air travel and more than 95% of its air cargo.[3] It is withinPortland's city limits just south of theColumbia River inMultnomah County, 6 miles (10 kilometers) by air and 12 mi (19 km) by highway northeast ofdowntown Portland. Portland International Airport is often referred to by its IATA airport code, PDX. The airport covers 3,000 acres (1,214 ha) of land.[1][4]
Portland International Airport has direct flights to cities throughout the United States and in several other countries, including Canada, Mexico, Germany, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Iceland. The airport is ahub forAlaska Airlines.[5] It also has a maintenance facility for Alaska Air subsidiaryHorizon Air.General aviation services are provided at PDX byAtlantic Aviation.[6] TheOregon Air National Guard has abase on the southwest portion of the airport property grounds, and is also the host unit of the142nd Wing which operates theF-15EX Eagle II. Local transportation includes theMAX Red Line light rail, which takes passengers between PDX and downtown Portland, as well as farther west toBeaverton. There is alsoInterstate 205, which connects to southwesternWashington (north from PDX) along with many suburbs of Portland (south from PDX).
History
Portland's first airport was theSwan Island Municipal Airport,[7] northwest of downtown Portland on theWillamette River. The Port of Portland purchased 256 acres (104 ha) and construction began in 1926.Charles Lindbergh flew in and dedicated the new airfield in 1927.
By 1935 it was becoming apparent to the Port of Portland that the airport was becoming obsolete.[7] The small airfield couldn't easily be expanded, nor could it accommodate the larger aircraft and passenger loads expected to become common to Portland. Plans immediately were conceived to relocate the outdated airfield to a larger site. The Swan Island area is now used by the Port of Portland asan industrial park.[8]
Construction and early operations
The Portland City Council purchased the present PDX site in 1936. It was 700 acres (280 ha) bordered by the Columbia River in the north and theColumbia Slough in the south. The city council issued US$300,000 and asked the Port of Portland to sponsor a US$1.3 millionWorks Progress Administration (WPA) grant to develop the site into a "super airport". The project provided badly neededGreat Depression-era jobs.[9] Construction of the airport steadily employed over 1,000 men, and was described by historian Neil Barker as "Portland's most significant public works improvement during the New Deal era".[10] The WPA and Port of Portland faced difficulties in preparing the site for construction because the low-lying area was frequently covered by flood waters from the Columbia River. Workers covered the area with over 4 million cubic yards (3,100,000 m3) of sand to help drain it of water, and constructed a series of dikes to control flooding. Two runways capable of serving the modern aircraft of the time were operational by 1941.[10] The airport was designated "Portland–Columbia Airport" to distinguish it from then-operating Swan Island Airport. DuringWorld War II, the airfield was used by theUnited States Army Air Forces.
The "super airport" had a terminal on the north side, off Marine Drive, and five runways (NE-SW, NW-SE, and an E-W runway forming anasterisk). This configuration was adequate until a new terminal and a longer, 8,800-foot (2,700 m) east–west runway were constructed in 1952.[11][better source needed]
In 1948 the entire airport grounds were flooded during theVanport Flood, forcing scheduled airline services to reroute to nearbyTroutdale Airport. The grounds were under water for several months.[citation needed]
New terminal (1950s)
Portland's first jets were Pan Am 707-321s about October 1959.[citation needed] A new terminal opened in 1959, which for the most part serves as the present facility.[12] The new terminal is located to the east of the original runways, and north of the then-new 8,800 ft (2,700 m) runway. Construction of a second east–west runway to the north made this a midfield terminal. At this point, all but the NE-SW (3/21) runway in the original "X" were abandoned and turned into taxiways. 3/21 was extended for use as a cross-wind runway. "International" was added to the airport's official designation after the 1950s-era improvements.
A Western Airlines Boeing 737 at the airport in 1973
The first international nonstop was Western's 720B toVancouver,British Columbia, in 1967.[citation needed] Plans made in 1968 to add a third runway by means of filling in parts of the Columbia River were met with vocal public opposition and scrapped. The airport switched from screening passengers at individual gates to screening all visitors at concourse entrances in 1973 as new FAA regulations went into effect.[13] By 1974, the airport was served by Braniff, Cascade, Continental, Eastern, Hughes Airwest, Northwest Orient, Pan Am, United and Western, and the Seattle route was served by seven airlines with aircraft as large asBoeing 747s.[14] In 1974, the south runway was extended to 11,000 feet (3,400 m) to service the newest jumbo jets. The terminal building was renovated and expanded in 1977.[12]
United was the dominant carrier at PDX during the regulated era and through the 1980s.[15]Air Oregon started short-haul service from Portland following deregulation in 1978, and by 1979 had routes to seven other cities in Oregon.[16] In April 1983, United Airlines began a flight from Chicago to Tokyo's Narita Airport that stopped in Seattle–Tacoma six days a week and in Portland once a week. The company operated the service with Boeing 747s.[17][18] Meanwhile,Delta Air Lines wanted to add Tokyo to its network, but it lacked aircraft that could fly there nonstop from its Atlanta base. Consequently, the company established a "Pacific gateway" in Portland, a small hub for routes to Asia.[19][20][21] Delta began service from Portland to Tokyo in March 1987.[19][22]
By the 1980s, the terminal building began an extensive renovation in order to update PDX to meet future needs. The ticketing and baggage claim areas were renovated and expanded, and a new Concourse D for Alaska Airlines was added in 1986.[23] Concourse E was first to be reconstructed in 1992, and featured PDX's first moving sidewalks.[12] The Oregon Marketplace, a small shopping mall, was added in the former waiting areas behind the ticket counters.[citation needed] The early 1990s saw a food court and extension added to Concourse C, and the opening of the new Concourse D in 1994.[12] This marked the first concessions inside secured areas, allowing passengers to purchase items without having to be re-screened.[citation needed] An expanded parking garage, new control tower, and canopy over the curbside were finished in the late 1990s. Although hailed by architectural critics, the canopy blocked views ofMount Hood from the curbside. On July 31, 1997, during construction, the garage addition collapsed due to inadequate bolts holding girders together and inadequate securing of structural members, killing three steelworkers.[24]
Delta added domestic flights to Portland to feed the Asia routes.[25] In 1995, the carrier offered nonstop service to Tokyo, Seoul, Nagoya, and Taipei, with the Taipei flight continuing on to Bangkok.[26] It also flew to eight domestic cities, such as Atlanta, New York, and San Francisco.[27] However, Delta faced obstacles to the success of its operation in Portland. These included the1997 Asian financial crisis and complaints about the treatment of Asian passengers at the immigration facility in Portland, which led to the nickname "Deportland."[21][28] Moreover, airlines were introducing more flights from the United States to Asia, allowing travelers to bypass the Portland hub.[28] Delta reduced the number of Asian destinations to two, Tokyo and Nagoya. It finally closed the hub in March 2001 due to financial losses. The move left the airport without transpacific air service.[20][29][30]
The old check-in counters before 2024
The present H-shape of the PDX terminal, designed byZimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership,[31] was completed on September 10, 2001, when the new A, B and C concourses, as well as the light rail line, were finished. Probably the most stunning portion of PDX's interior, the new concourses reflect a Northwest theme, focusing heavily on the nearby Columbia River. A huge celebration was to be held the following weekend, but theSeptember 11 attacks interceded. The new concourses, designed to be public spaces, were closed to non-passengers.
Lufthansa started direct flights to Frankfurt in March 2003. The route was operated by Airbus A340s, and was discontinued in 2009.[32][33]
In June 2004, Northwest Airlines introduced nonstop service to its hub at Tokyo-Narita aboard a McDonnell Douglas DC-10. In order to funnel passengers from other American cities onto the flight, Northwest made use of its partnerships with four other carriers instead of adding its own domestic routes to Portland. This strategy was less costly than Delta's.[34][35] After Northwest's merger with Delta 4 years later, the Tokyo service was retained until being cancelled in 2020 due to the global pandemic. Initially, a flight toHaneda Airport was planned to resume in 2021 but was delayed repeatedly until Delta announced in Fall 2023 that it would be relinquishing this PDX slot and consolidating transpacific service from SEA instead.[36]
In August 2005, theconcourse connector was opened.[37] This is a long hallway on the secure side of the airport that connects the A, B and C concourses to the D and E concourses on the other side of the airport. If there is a long line at the checkpoint at one end of the airport, passengers may use the other checkpoint and walk through the connector to their desired concourse.[38] The connector closed permanently on January 5, 2021, to make room for terminal expansion.[39]
Theairport's carpet, installed in 1987, was designed to stylize the criss-crossing north and south runways. Beginning in 2014, a new design replaced the original pattern. In response, many residents created products to celebrate the carpet as a local icon.[40][41]
In December 2016, the Port of Portland renovated the security checkpoints and immigration facilities as part of its PDXNext project. This included the relocation and widening of the exit lanes by the security checkpoints and upgraded security on both sides of the terminal.[42]
Terminal expansion (2020s)
Interior of the main terminal after it reopened in August 2024
In the latter half of 2016, the Port of Portland and several airlines at PDX approved a project intended to balance the use of the terminal and concourses at Portland International Airport. The subsequent project extended Concourse E by 750 feet (230 m) and added 6 new gates to the facility. After the project,Southwest Airlines relocated its operations from Concourse C to the newly expanded Concourse E, alongsideUnited Airlines. With the relocation of Southwest Airlines to Concourse E, Alaska Airlines,American Airlines andJetBlue Airways became the primary users of Concourses B and C. Construction on this project began in the spring of 2017 and opened to passengers on July 15, 2020.[43][44][45]
Concourse A was demolished in November 2019 due to the age and space of the structure and was replaced by an expanded Concourse B. The extension featured 4 jet bridges, 6 ground loading zones, and improved concession stands. All Horizon operations that operated out of Concourse A was temporarily moved to Concourse C until the expanded Concourse B was completed. The new concourse opened on December 8, 2021.[46][44][47]
In March 2020, the main terminal began a five-year expansion process to generate more open space in the pre-security area and an expansion of 150 feet toward the west. The concourse connector was closed in January 2021 and the Clocktower Plaza closed three months later to make room for the expansion. During construction, the remains of the concourse connector was reused for passengers to bypass the construction zone to get to concourses C and D. Construction of phase one of the new main terminal was expected to be complete by May 2024.[48][49] One month before its scheduled opening, however, the opening date for the new terminal was delayed by three months due to construction incidents on site.[50] Phase one of the new terminal opened to the public on August 14, 2024.[51] In 2025,Condé Nast Traveler named Portland International Airport one of "The World’s Most Beautiful Airports for 2025."[52]As of September 2024, total construction is expected to wrap up in early 2026.
Alaska Airlines began shifting connecting flights from Seattle to Portland in May 2025 as part of a strategy to use the latter as a reliever for overcrowding at Seattle–Tacoma.[53]
Facilities
The check-in counters at PDX
The airport has one passenger terminal composed of four concourses, which are designated B, C, D, and E. There are 60 gates in total.[54] The international section of Concourse D was renamed the GovernorVictor G. Atiyeh International Concourse to honor the former Oregon governor, who was also known as "Trader Vic" for launching international tourism and trade initiatives during his gubernatorial term.
ThePort of Portland requires all airport shops and restaurants to practice fair retail pricing—businesses are not allowed to charge more than at off-airport locations.[55] Unique amenities include amicrocinema run by theHollywood Theatre; it shows free short films by Portland-based filmmakers that are primarily focused on the culture of thePacific Northwest.[56][57][58][59] The terminal also houses a distillery.[60][61] In the pre-security area, there are several localfood carts.[62] In addition, the lower terminal roadway near theTriMetMAX Red Line station has a work station and assembly for repairing bicycles. The Oregon Welcome Center also has a "Tool check-out".[63][64]
Jet fuel is supplied via the Portland Jet Line, an 8 inches (200 mm)Kinder Morgan fuel pipeline running from theNorthwest Industrial area of Portland's Willbridge Terminal to the airport. Willbridge contains 40 tanks, connected to the 14 inches (360 mm)Olympic pipeline and 8 inches (200 mm) Eugene pipeline, BNSF rail, truck, and ships.[65][66][67]
Public transit service to the airport is provided byTriMet, the metropolitan area's primary transit agency, with itsMAX Red Linelight rail service. The 1986-openedMAX Light Rail system was extended to the airport in 2001.[108] The Red Line originally provided service as far as downtown Portland only, but in 2003 it was extended west to Beaverton.[109] The light railstation is located only about 150 ft (50 m) from the airport's baggage claim area.[108] Prior to 2001, TriMet service to the airport consisted of bus route 72-82nd Avenue from 1970[110] to 1986, and route 12-Sandy Blvd. from 1986[111] to 2001.[112] Pacific Crest Lines also offers daily service toUnion Station,Salem andBend.
By road, the terminal is accessible from exit 24 onInterstate 205.
Accidents and incidents
On October 1, 1966,West Coast Airlines Flight 956 crashed in a desolate section of theMount Hood National Forest during descent into Portland International Airport. Of the 18 passengers and crew, there were no survivors. The probable cause of the accident was "the descent of the aircraft below its clearance limit and below that of surrounding obstructing terrain, but the Board was unable to determine the cause of such descent." The accident was the first loss of aDouglas DC-9.
On December 28, 1978,United Airlines Flight 173 was en route to Portland International Airport fromStapleton International Airport inDenver, Colorado. On approach to Portland International Airport, the crew lowered the landing gear which caused a loud thump, abnormal vibration, unusual yaw, and the landing gear indicator lights failed to light. The plane circled Portland while the crew investigated the problem. After about an hour, the plane exhausted its fuel supply and crashed into the suburban neighborhood of East Burnside Street and NE 158th Ave. Of the 189 passengers and crew on board, ten died and 24 more were injured. An investigation revealed that the crash was caused by "the failure of the captain to properly monitor the aircraft's fuel state". This accident's investigation led to substantially improved aviation safety by widespread adoption ofcrew resource management which emphasizes crew teamwork and communication instead of a command hierarchy.[113]
On January 20, 1983,Northwest Airlines Flight 608, aBoeing 727 with 41 passengers and crew enroute fromSeattle-Tacoma International Airport to PDX was hijacked by a male hijacker. He informed a flight attendant that he had a bomb in a box and wanted to be flown toAfghanistan. The hijacker agreed to land at PDX to refuel and shortly after, negotiations began. When the hijacker was engaged, federal agents boarded the aircraft through a cockpit window. When the hijacker was confronted, he threw the box at the agents and one of the agents fired one shot and killed the hijacker. It was later discovered the box contained no explosives.[114]
On February 16, 2008, visibility of 1/8 mile was a possible factor in the fatal accident that took the life of the pilot, Oregon doctor Richard Otoski, a Klamath Falls dermatologist flying hisColumbia 400. The accident took place just short of runway 10R at Portland International Airport. Otoski was the only person on board the aircraft, manufactured by the formerLancair Company. "Damn it... we're gonna crash" were the last words PDX controllers heard from N621ER.[115] The aircraft was apparently in the process of making another missed approach in poor visibility following theILS when it clipped an airport perimeter fence, crashed, and soon caught fire. The aircraft had departed from Klamath Falls 90 minutes earlier.[116]
On January 5, 2024,Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, a 3 month-oldBoeing 737 MAX 9 was en route toOntario, California from Portland when a door plug (a structure installed to replace an optional emergency exit door located in the rear mid-cabin just behind the wings) tore off mid-flight. The flight experienceduncontrolled decompression and was forced to turn around and perform an emergency landing at PDX, resulting in three minor injuries. The incident causedBoeing to temporarily ground nearly all 737 MAX 9's to investigate the maintenance of the door plug.[117]
On March 18, 2024, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800 arriving fromWashington, D.C., suffered a cracked windshield while landing. The plane landed safely with no one among the 165 people on board being injured. The airline repaired the aircraft.[118]
^abCity of Portland Archives (February 1, 2012)."Swan Island Airport, 1935".Vintage Portland.Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. RetrievedNovember 4, 2012.Portland's main airport on Swan Island was only open a few years before it became obvious that the site offered little expansion room. The year after this 1935 photo, land was purchased along the Columbia River for a new airport.
^Bui, Hien; Kain, Michelle (February 14, 2011)."Airport History". Center for Columbia River History.Archived from the original on May 19, 2006. RetrievedOctober 21, 2006.
^"KINDER MORGAN PORTLAND JET LINE LLC TRANSPORTATION POLICY".kindermorgan.com. July 1, 2022. Archived fromthe original on February 15, 2023. RetrievedFebruary 15, 2023.Kinder Morgan Portland Jet Line LLC ("Carrier") owns and operates an intrastate pipeline originating at Kinder Morgan's Willbridge Terminal in Multnomah County, Oregon to Portland International Airport in Multnomah County, Oregon.
^"Pacific Operations"(PDF).kindermorgan.com.Archived(PDF) from the original on February 11, 2023. RetrievedFebruary 15, 2023.Willbridge Direct pumping into 8" Portland Airport line
^"Guild's Lake Industrial Sanctuary Plan".portlandoregon.gov. 2001.Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. RetrievedFebruary 15, 2023.Three underground petroleum pipelines exist in the GLIS. The 14-inch Olympic pipeline originates from Puget Sound area oil refineries and terminates at bulk fuel terminals in Linnton and the GLIS. The Olympic pipeline is a primary supplier of gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel for the Portland metropolitan area and moves the equivalent of 1,800 tanker trucks of fuel per day between the Seattle and Portland areas. The 8-inch Kinder Morgan pipeline originates in the GLIS and supplies petroleum products to the Eugene area. An additional pipeline runs from the GLIS to Portland International Airport, supplying it with aviation fuel. These pipelines are examples of major private investments in industrial infrastructure within the GLIS that serve the regional economy.
Portland Airport
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Denver, Colorado
Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona
Los Angeles, California
Seattle/Tacoma, Washington
Las Vegas, Nevada
Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois
Salt Lake City, Utah
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
Vancouver, Canada
Guadalajara, Mexico
Amsterdam, Netherlands
London–Heathrow, United Kingdom
Reykjavík–Keflavík, Iceland
Frankfurt, Germany
