Portland, Maine's Airport: A Compact Gateway To New England

Portland International Jetport, locally known as the Jetport, is a public airport two miles west of downtown Portland, Maine, United States. It is the busiest airport in the state, covering 726 acres of land. The airport features two runways, a geothermal heating and cooling system, and a brick terminal building constructed in 1940. In 2018, the Jetport handled more than two million passengers for the first time, breaking the previous record of 1.86 million set in 2017.

The airport covers 726 acres of land

Portland International Jetport, locally known as the Jetport, is a public airport two miles west of downtown Portland, Maine, United States. It covers 726 acres of land, which is equivalent to 293 hectares. The airport is the busiest in the state of Maine.

The airport is owned and operated by the City of Portland, and a portion of the Jetport's property, including the main runway, is located within the neighbouring city of South Portland. The Jetport has two runways, one north-south 2,400'x 100' gravel runway and one east-west 1,500'x 100' gravel runway. The airport's first real terminal was built in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and is now the general-aviation terminal.

The new terminal features a geothermal heating and cooling system, which is the largest of its kind in Maine. This system is expected to reduce the Jetport's consumption of heating oil by up to 102,000 gallons per year. In 2018, the Jetport handled more than two million passengers for the first time, breaking the previous record of 1.86 million set in 2017.

It is the busiest airport in the state

Portland International Jetport, locally known as the Jetport, is a public airport two miles (3 km) west of downtown Portland, Maine, United States. It is the busiest airport in the state, handling more than two million passengers in 2018. The airport covers 726 acres (293 ha) of land and is owned and operated by the City of Portland.

The Jetport has two runways, one north-south and one east-west. The airport has benefited from service by low-cost carriers such as Southwest Airlines and JetBlue, as well as Portland's increased popularity as a tourist destination. The new terminal features a geothermal heating and cooling system – the largest of its kind in Maine – which is expected to reduce the Jetport's consumption of heating oil by up to 102,000 gallons per year.

The Portland International Jetport has a long history, with the Portland town report of 1938 noting that the building of the runways and grading of the field were by WPA labour, and the city furnished part of the material. In 1940, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) built Portland's first real terminal, a brick structure that is now the general-aviation terminal.

The airport has seen several expansions and improvements over the years, including the extension of the south runway to 11,000 feet (3,400 m) in 1974 to service the newest jumbo jets. Despite these improvements, plans to add a third runway by filling in parts of the Columbia River in 1968 were met with public opposition and scrapped.

It is owned and operated by the City of Portland

Portland International Jetport is a public airport two miles (3 km) west of downtown Portland, Maine, United States. It is owned and operated by the City of Portland. The airport covers 726 acres (293 ha) of land, making it the busiest airport in the state. The City of Portland purchased the site in 1936, and it was originally 700 acres (280 ha) bordered by the Columbia River in the north and the Columbia Slough in the south.

The airport has two runways, one north-south 2,400'x 100' gravel runway and one east-west 1,500'x 100' gravel runway. The first terminal was built in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), and the current terminal features a geothermal heating and cooling system – the largest of its kind in Maine.

In 2018, the jetport handled more than two million passengers for the first time, breaking the previous record of 1.86 million set in 2017. The airport has benefited from service by low-cost carriers such as Southwest Airlines and JetBlue, as well as Portland's increased popularity as a tourist destination.

The airport handled more than two million passengers in 2018

Portland International Jetport (IATA: PWM, ICAO: KPWM, FAA LID: PWM), locally known as the Jetport, is a public airport two miles (3 km) west of downtown Portland, Maine, United States. It is the busiest airport in the state. In 2018, the airport handled more than two million passengers for the first time, breaking the previous record of 1.86 million set in 2017. The airport has benefited from service by low-cost carriers such as Southwest Airlines and JetBlue, as well as Portland's increased popularity as a tourist destination.

The Jetport covers 726 acres (293 ha) of land. A portion of the Jetport's property, including the main runway, is located within the neighbouring city of South Portland. The airport has two runways, one north-south 2,400'x 100' gravel runway and one east-west 1,500'x 100' gravel runway. The south runway was extended to 11,000 feet (3,400 m) in 1974 to service the newest jumbo jets. The airport's first real terminal was built in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The new terminal features a geothermal heating and cooling system – the largest of its kind in Maine – which is expected to reduce the Jetport's consumption of heating oil by up to 102,000 gallons per year.

The airport features a geothermal heating and cooling system

Portland International Jetport (IATA: PWM, ICAO: KPWM, FAA LID: PWM) is a public airport two miles (3 km) west of downtown Portland, Maine, United States. It covers 726 acres (293 ha) of land. The airport is the busiest in the state, handling more than two million passengers in 2018.

The geothermal system works by using the natural heat of the Earth to provide heating and cooling for the airport. This is done through a series of underground pipes that circulate a fluid, which absorbs heat from the ground and transfers it to the building. The system can also be used in reverse to provide cooling by transferring heat from the building to the ground.

The use of geothermal energy is a renewable and sustainable source of energy that has numerous benefits for the airport. Not only does it reduce the airport's reliance on fossil fuels, but it also provides a more efficient and cost-effective way of heating and cooling the large space.

The installation of the geothermal system is part of the airport's commitment to sustainability and reducing its environmental impact. The airport has also implemented other initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint, such as using energy-efficient lighting and recycling programs.

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