If you’ve seen some construction at PDX recently, you probably have a few questions. That’s what we’re here for.
If you’re traveling with us soon: PDX remains open and operational. Visit FlyPDX.com/Travelsafe to learn how the Port of Portland is working to keep our community safe and what you can expect the next time you come to Portland International Airport.
Where to find the latest construction updates: For the latest travel updates, head over to FlyPDX.com, and follow along on Twitter at @FlyPDX for timely news and at-the-moment alerts. Keep coming back here to PDXNext.com for sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes stories.
The coronavirus pandemic has put many workplaces on hold, but PDX is critical infrastructure for our region. We’re safely keeping construction moving — adapting our plans to preserve jobs while ensuring the health of our workers. We started the PDX Next program to upgrade outdated facilities, make PDX more seismically resilient and prepare for growth in our region. Those needs have not changed. We’re making progress on these essential projects so the airport continues to serve our communities now and in the future, through economic recovery and beyond.
Our PDX family has come together to keep essential services up and running and critical projects in motion — we’re following official guidelines while taking extra precautions to keep everyone safe and healthy. Port of Portland leadership is working with our construction partners to ensure the highest safety standards on all of our job sites. This includes strict social distancing and deep cleaning as well as contact tracing and supporting ill team members to stay home and self-isolate. Keeping construction moving safely means we can help keep 1,250 people working and continue to support dozens of local businesses.
The new Concourse E extension at PDX is complete. This bright new home for Southwest Airlines opened in July 2020 at PDX thanks to our many partners, who worked through challenging times to cross the finish line. A big round of applause to Skanska, more than 75 local construction subcontractors, Hennebery Eddy Architects, Fentress Architects, Tillamook, Jamba, Calliope, Your Northwest Travel Mart and artist Jacob Hashimoto.
PDX simply needs more space to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the millions of passengers we serve. Right now, we welcome around 20 million people per year; we expect that number to grow to 35 million passengers by 2045. That’s why we’re upgrading the heart of the airport with an earthquake-resilient main terminal — flexible enough to adapt to new technology and with more room to keep everyone comfortable. See for yourself how we’re bringing this vision to life.
In November 2019, we said goodbye to the oldest and stuffiest concourse at PDX... forever. Concourse A will be demolished to make room for a more spacious Concourse B. (In the meantime, Alaska Airlines flights will depart from Concourse C, where you’ll find more restaurants and more places to relax before takeoff.) That means that the alphabet at PDX will now officially begin with “B,” not “A” — we’re doing our part to keep Portland a little weird.
We’re making the Portland International Airport more, well, PDX. Expect new views of Mt. Hood, creative work from acclaimed artists, some of your favorite Portland restaurants (um, hello, Screen Door) and #PNW touches like warm wood panels and indoor plants. And in addition to making the airport more comfortable and convenient, we’re also making it more sustainable and inclusive by design. PDX Next is the airport you love, getting lovelier.
PDX Next is funded with a $2 billion investment. You may wonder who’s picking up that check. The answer is simple: It’s not local taxpayers, as some folks may assume. The vast majority of these upgrades are paid for by airport tenants, including the airlines, Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security Administration.
You bet! That’s one way we’re keeping the heart and soul of PDX intact. As we open more spaces for restaurants and shops, we’re creating new opportunities for local businesses. And in the next two years, we’re placing an even greater emphasis on elevating small and disadvantaged entrepreneurs; by the time these new shops and restaurants open, 26% of the airport’s concessions will be women- and minority-owned.
We’re making a bunch of improvements to help you get in and out of the airport seamlessly. A few of these changes are now in effect. The next time you hail a car, it’ll be easier to find your driver thanks to a pioneering program based on Uber’s PIN technology and Lyft's code-based pickup service. The icing on the cake comes in 2023 when we’ll open a dedicated rideshare pick-up area, which will ease roadway congestion for everyone.
Oh yes, the famous carpet at PDX. It’s risen to celebrity status over the years, thanks to the bajillion shoe selfies travelers share on Instagram. You probably know that the airport replaced the iconic, worn-out 1980s-era carpet with a fresh-but-similar design in 2015. We’re happy to confirm that you can keep snapping pics of your handsome sneakers. As is currently the case throughout the airport, our new and renovated spaces will feature varied flooring materials inspired by the Pacific Northwest, homey carpet included.
The extensive art and music program at PDX is a microcosm of our region’s creative scene, and PDX Next means even more of it. You can look forward to new work from artists such as RYAN! Feddersen and Jacob Hashimoto, who opened a permanent exhibit in Concourse E in June 2020.
Well, this isn’t a question … but don’t worry, we’ve got some tasty news for you. In the next couple of years, nine new concessions will open at PDX. The mix includes local favorites like recently opened Tillamook in Concourse E as well as Good Coffee and Screen Door coming soon to Concourse B. Check out this behind-the-scenes story about our new culinary hot spots.
The flexible interior spaces were designed with the future of travel in mind — and to give you plenty of comfortable spots to recharge before your next flight.
Two permanent installations from acclaimed contemporary artist Jacob Hashimoto hang like clouds above the concourse’s common areas.
Shops and restaurants are clustered together like city blocks, with a pedestrian-friendly scale and lots of room to spread out.
Artist Jacob Hashimoto’s canopy of kite-like discs reflects the atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest, with locally inspired graphics incorporated throughout.
Sky-high windows fill the interior with daylight while maximizing the concourse extension’s energy efficiency.
At the east end of the concourse, a wall of windows opens up this epic view of Mt. Hood, where you’ll definitely want to pose for a photo before takeoff.
The Concourse E extension project is the dedicated home for Southwest Airlines at PDX, with six new gates.
Remember the view of Mt. Hood on Concourse E? It’s coming back, brighter than ever.
Tillamook’s menu includes the best of the classics with fried cheese curds and a signature grilled cheese.
Calliope takes its name from one of Oregon’s native hummingbirds and showcases creative and playful keepsakes.
Grab your favorite book, magazine or newspaper at Your Northwest Travel Mart.
Remember the feeling of walking through an Oregon forest for the first time?
That feeling inspired the design of the new Concourse B.
An early movement flow study for the new Concourse B.
The new Concourse B has great exposure to southern light.
Interior rendering for the new Concourse B.
The new Concourse B has Pacific Northwest touches like warm wood panels and indoor greenery.
Exterior rendering of the new Concourse B.
The six new ground loading gates for Alaska Airlines are bigger and brighter.
Our new rental car center opens in 2021.
Movable plants and furniture make the space flexible.
When the new rental car center opens in 2021, you won’t need a shuttle to pick up your car.
Interior acoustical materials help reduce noise.
The new facility also provides more long-term parking, new office spaces, and a new and relocated parking toll plaza building.
A new exit plaza opened in November 2019.
Every design decision we make is about keeping the heart and soul of PDX intact. You’ll see homages to all the things you love about our city and region in the new airport designs.
The new terminal’s wooden roof (as seen in this close-up rendering, right) might remind you of daylight filtering through forest canopies.
You’ll notice subtle nods to Pacific Northwest elements throughout the new space. The ripples and currents of our pristine rivers, for example, are inspiring the undulating flow of the wooden roof, as depicted in this architectural model (right).
We’re filling the new main terminal with a lot of Portland love — both in terms of regionally sourced materials and, well, doughnuts. (C’mon, what would PDX be without doughnuts?)
You’ll see a scene something like this when you enter the more spacious ticket lobby at PDX. This early architectural rendering previews the vision for the iconic wooden roof — inspired by Pacific Northwest nature, craft and our partly sunny skies.
Natural light, living trees and native Oregon foliage might give you the feeling of walking through a park, as this early architectural rendering shows.
Expanding the heart of the airport creates more spaces for the local shops and restaurants you love. Architects are thoughtfully planning these public spaces to resemble the human-friendly scale of your favorite Portland neighborhoods.