Portland Maine Airport: Size, Scale, And Scope

Portland International Jetport (PWM) is a medium-sized airport located west of Portland, Maine. The airport was founded in the late 1920s by Dr. Clifford Kip Strange, who needed space for his JN-4 Jenny Biplane. The airport has grown significantly over the years, serving most major domestic airlines and over 1.6 million passengers annually. The airport has undergone several expansions and improvements, including a $75 million project in 2010-2011 that improved check-in and security areas, reconfigured airport roads, and expanded the parking garage. The airport features two intersecting runways, 11-29 and 18-36, with a full-length taxiway on the north side providing access to terminals and other facilities. With its convenient layout and small-town feel, the Portland International Jetport is committed to serving the community and providing an efficient travel experience for its passengers.

History of Portland International Jetport

Portland International Jetport, locally known as PWM, is a public airport two miles (3 km) west of downtown Portland, Maine. It is owned and operated by the City of Portland. The airport is the busiest in the state, serving most of the major domestic airlines and over 1.6 million passengers a year.

Like many community airports, Portland International Jetport had its beginnings as the private airfield of Dr. Clifford "Kip" Strange, a native of Portland, Maine, who became interested in aviation at an early age. In the late 1920s, he created space on his extensive Portland land for his JN-4 "Jenny" Biplane. Known as Stroudwater Airport, the airport received its first commercial service on August 1, 1931, when Boston-Maine Airways began flights from Portland to Boston. In 1934, the airline inaugurated airline service at the Portland facility when it moved from Scarborough. The City of Portland bought the airfield in 1936 for $68,471 and changed its name to Portland-Westbrook Municipal Airport.

During World War II, the airport was closed to most civilian traffic, but lend-lease aircraft passed through on their way to Canada. When U.S. neutrality forbade cross-border flights, the Canada-bound planes would fly from Portland to Houlton, Maine, and were then towed into Canada by horses or tractors. The Portland airport was also the base for Civil Air Patrol planes that searched coastal waters for enemy submarines.

The airport began to take its current form after the war, during the 1950s and 60s. The present main runway was built in 1957 and lengthened in 1966. The current terminal building opened in 1968, when jet aircraft arrived, and has been expanded at least twice since. Northeast Airlines was long the Jetport’s commercial mainstay, pioneering the route to Florida and Maine’s spring vacation tradition. Thousands of Mainers first flew on its DC9 jets, nicknamed “yellow birds” for their unusual color scheme.

The 1970s and 1980s saw the influx of other airlines, and the airport experienced strong growth starting in 1983. In 1972, Northeast was bought by Delta Airlines, which remains one of the major carriers at the Jetport. Today, the Jetport is the fastest-growing airport in New England, and several expansions and other improvements have been made to keep up with that growth.

Runway lengths

Portland International Jetport (IATA: PWM, ICAO: KPWM, FAA LID: PWM), locally known as the Jetport, has several runways with different lengths. The airport covers 726 acres (293 ha) of land and is the busiest airport in the state of Maine.

A chart from March 1951 shows runway 1 as 4,260 ft long, runway 10 as 2,900 ft, and runway 15 as 4,010 ft. Runway 11/29 was built in 1957 and lengthened to 6,800 feet (2,073 m) in 1966. In 2004, Runway 11/29 was lengthened again, this time to 7,200 feet (2,195 m).

In 2020, PWM received federal funding to construct a 1,200 ft-long (370 m) taxiway connecting runways. The airport has continued to undergo expansion and improvements, including plans to lengthen Runway 18/36.

The Jetport is easily navigable and user-friendly, with amenities such as a gift shop, a Visitor Information Center, a snack bar, and a restaurant. It is accessible from the nearby city of Westbrook, located two miles (3 km) west of downtown Portland, Maine.

Terminal expansion

Portland International Jetport (PWM) is a medium-sized airport located near the city of Portland, Maine. The airport has been serving most of the major domestic airlines and over 1.6 million passengers annually. In 2013, PWM was left without scheduled international flights when Air Canada pulled out of Portland.

The current terminal building at PWM opened in 1968 with jet flights, and it has been expanded at least three times since then. The latest terminal expansion project began in 2010 with a $75 million budget. The project was designed by Gensler and constructed by Turner Construction. The expanded terminal was opened to the public on October 2, 2011.

The expansion brought about several improvements and changes to the airport. This included improvements to check-in and security areas, reconfiguration of the airport access road and terminal roads, and rehabilitation and expansion of the parking garage. The new terminal also features a geothermal heating and cooling system, which is expected to reduce the Jetport's consumption of heating oil by up to 102,000 gallons per year.

The airport has experienced strong growth since 1983 and has been named the Best Airport in North America serving nearly 2.2 million annual travellers for four consecutive years. To accommodate this growth, PWM has undergone several expansions and improvements. In addition to the terminal expansion, other recent major projects include the opening of Maine Turnpike Exit 46, which provides a direct link to Maine's most important roadway, and the completion of a new five-story parking garage located just outside the terminal.

Looking ahead, PWM has a 10-year capital program aimed at keeping up with the latest technology, safety requirements, and projected growth in passenger counts and air cargo volumes. The airport is committed to preserving the small-town feel of Maine while developing the airport of the future.

Awards

Portland International Jetport, a medium-sized airport in Maine, has won multiple awards for its customer service. The airport has been recognised through the Airports Council International Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards, which are based on surveys of passengers on their day of travel. Indicators include airport access, check-in, security screening, restrooms, and restaurants.

In 2015, 2017, and 2018, the airport won the Airport Service Quality Award for Best Customer Service by Size (under 2 million passengers). In 2018, the airport also won the ASQ award for Best Airport by Size and Category (under 2 million passengers in North America). This was the airport's third ASQ award in four years for this category.

Paul Bradbury, Airport Director, commented on the airport's commitment to "preserving the small-town feel of Maine" while "continu [ing] to develop the airport of the future." He also noted the competitive nature of the air service market and the importance of providing a better experience for customers.

In addition to its ASQ awards, the Portland International Jetport has also undergone several expansion and improvement projects. In 2010 and 2011, the airport underwent a $75 million expansion of its terminal, which included improvements to check-in areas, security, and the airport access road. The new terminal features a geothermal heating and cooling system, which is expected to reduce the airport's consumption of heating oil. Other recent projects include the opening of Maine Turnpike Exit 46, which links the airport to Maine's most important roadway, and the completion of a new five-story parking garage.

Passenger numbers

Portland International Jetport (PWM) is the busiest airport in Maine, located about 2.5 km from downtown Portland. It is accessible from Exit 46 of I-95 (the Maine Turnpike) and Exit 3 of I-295, with an additional entrance for local traffic on outer Congress Street. The airport is served by low-cost carriers like JetBlue and Southwest, making it a popular choice for travellers to Maine.

In 2007, JetBlue's addition of a fifth daily flight to New York City contributed to a record-high 17% increase in passengers compared to the previous year. The following year, in 2008, Delta Air Lines resumed daily mainline service to Portland, offering a flight to Atlanta. Despite these increases, the 2008 economic recession led to an overall decline in air traffic as the airline industry scaled back operations.

In October 2011, PWM completed a $75 million renovation and expansion of its terminal, enhancing airline service and passenger amenities. The airport received $4.5 million in federal funds in 2020 to construct a 1,200-foot-long taxiway connecting runways.

Portland International Jetport is user-friendly and handicapped-accessible. It offers amenities such as a gift shop, a Visitor Information Center, an ATM, a dog-walking area, a snack bar, and the Shipyard Brewport restaurant. The Greater Portland METRO provides bus services to and from the airport, connecting it to downtown Portland and other transportation hubs.

Frequently asked questions