Oregon’s Portland International Airport (PDX) has unveiled its brand new main terminal featuring a design unique to the Pacific Northwest.
Taking three years to design and construct, the terminal officially opened on August 14, 2024.
According to the airport, the new terminal was built and designed by more than 30,000 local craftspeople,and, owing to the larger space, now has double the passenger capacity.
The main theme and design of the terminal features a lot of local wood, natural light and lush greenery which reflects the natural landscape of the Pacific Northwest.
“Our focus throughout this entire project was: How do we reflect the pride and love we all have for the region, in the new PDX? And that question drove every decision,” Curtis Robinhold, Executive Director for the Port of Portland said in a statement.
“To work with locally-owned small businesses using local materials, to fill the new PDX with local art and shops from our favorite neighborhoods—and, of course, to bring back the iconic carpet. It was a lot of local love for the Pacific Northwest that made it all happen,” Robinhold added.
Wider, more efficient
Improvements to the traveler journey at the new terminal go beyond aesthetics and also include technical upgrades. Wider Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints with new equipment are in place to make the screening process more efficient. Also, travelers can now check in at airline ticket counters arranged in four islands for a more streamlined travel process.
A watering hole for planespotters
Another unique feature at the new PDX terminal is a corner and bar for planespotters. Local Oregon brewery Local Legion has opened in the terminal, serving 96 Oregon beers on tap with a clear view of the runway. Planespotters and visitors will be pleased to know that tickets are not required to access the area.
Alaska Airlines’ lobby of the future
PDX is Alaska Airlines’ second largest hub, and the carrier invested in innovative technology and processes to move its guests more seamlessly through the airport lobby and into security in five minutes or less.
“The PDX bag drop experience leverages some of the latest innovations in computer vision to deliver the convenience and efficiency of automated bag processing while also ensuring user safety and security compliance to TSA ID-check requirements,” said Myles Tzelepis, Chief Technology Officer at self-service tech company Embross.
At the Alaska Airlines check-in desks, there are Apple iPad-powered bag tag stations that can print bag tags with just the scan of a mobile boarding pass.
Guests can also use Automated Bag Drop stations that scan and accept their checked baggage. This includes securely matching travelers to their government-issued IDs without standing in line for an agent.
“With nearly 90% of our passengers now checking in before they arrive at the airport, we’ve launched our lobby of the future experience in Portland which simplifies dropping off bags and gets guests quickly through the lobby so they can enjoy everything the new terminal has to offer,” said Charu Jain, Senior Vice President of Innovation and Merchandising at Alaska Airlines.
What’s still ahead?
According to the airport, the $2.15 billion expansion is being completed in two phases. The next and final phase begins on August 15, 2024. This includes the construction of permanent exit lanes, meet and greet areas, and even more local shops and restaurants. These are expected to be completed by early 2026.