This summer, travel at Portland International Airport can be summed up in one word — more.
More flights, more travelers, more destinations and yes, more lines.
PDX expects to serve nearly 5.3 million passengers from June through August, which would beat last summer’s all-time travel record by nearly 7 percent. During the busiest travel days — June 13, 15, 16 and Aug. 8 and 15 — the airport will serve more than 60,000 passengers daily.
The airport expects an average of 3,000 more daily travelers over last summer’s travel season and air carriers are offering 31 more flights than were available in the market last summer.
Since the start of 2016, PDX has seen the addition of nonstop flights to seven new destinations.
- Cleveland — Flights three-times weekly on Frontier Airlines
- Crescent City — Daily flights on PenAir
- Omaha – Daily flights on Alaska Airlines
- Redding and Arcata/Eureka – Daily flights on PenAir
- St. Louis — Daily flights on Alaska and Southwest Airlines
- Toronto – Daily flights on Air Canada
As well, there are more seats on more flights to existing destinations from PDX this summer as airlines have expanded service to the following cities: Minneapolis (Alaska and Sun Country Airlines); Kansas City, Mo. (Alaska); N.Bend/Coos Bay, Ore. (PenAir); Los Angeles (Spirit Airlines and American Airlines); Anchorage, Alaska (Delta Air Lines); Phoenix (Frontier); and Atlanta (Alaska).
Travel to Europe generally doubles from PDX during the summer months. In response, international carriers have added more frequencies. This summer, Icelandair resumed flying on May 11 with four weekly flights (up from two weekly flights last summer) and will expand their flying through the summer and into winter serving PDX until January 2017. Condor Airlines resumes service June 10, flying to PDX four-times weekly through late October.
And, if European travel isn’t in the cards this summer, know that more nonstop service is headed our way next summer: Delta Air Lines recently announced nonstop service to London’s Heathrow airport beginning May 26, 2017.
With more flights and more travelers come more lines, to be sure. PDX is working closely with local Transportation Security Administration staff to continue to provide travelers with the best experience possible. The Port of Portland has hired 16 contract security officers for 8 hours each day for the time period spanning June 12 through Labor Day. The TSA will assign these resources to help with line management, freeing up TSA officers for additional screening duty.
It is critical that PDX travelers arrive at least two hours before their flights. This is an estimate of the combined time it takes to park, ride a shuttle bus to the terminal, check a bag, and go through security. It’s especially true for flights departing before 8 a.m., or between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Travelers on international flights, or with children, or with disabilities should add 30 minutes.
Travelers and visitors to PDX can enter to win a Pendleton® National Parks prize package valued at more than $1,000. The package includes Pendleton luggage and blankets from their national parks collection. Contest rules and entry forms are available online and at the airport. Travelers can also enjoy performances by dozens of talented musicians and vocalists. Many stores and restaurants are participating with food and merchandise promotions, and extending operating hours to accommodate summer flight schedules.
Travelers can find more PDX travel tips at www.pdx.com, and can stay in touch with new developments at PDX on Twitter @flypdx. Transportation Security Administration travel tips and a complete list of items prohibited on flights are at www.tsa.gov.
