
Portland International Airport, commonly abbreviated as PDX, is located in Portland, Oregon, and is the largest airport in the state. The airport is loved by travellers for its local food and drink, tax-free shopping, complimentary Wi-Fi, and more. The airport is also well-known for its cultural phenomenon, where travellers take photos of their feet against the famous green carpet. The abbreviation PDX is used not only to refer to the airport but also to Portland, Oregon, in general.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Portland International Airport |
| Abbreviation | PDX |
| Location | Portland, Oregon |
| River | Columbia River |
| Year of Construction | 1920s |
| Year of Expansion | 2017 |
| Year of Opening | 1936 |
| Area | 3,000 acres |
| Number of Gates | 6 new gates added in 2020 |
| Number of Daily Flights | 500 |
| Number of Nonstop Flights | 60+ U.S. cities |
| Number of International and Domestic Airlines | 15+ |
| Awards | World's Best Domestic Airport (2013-2019) |
| Unique Amenities | Microcinema, Distillery, Local Food Carts, Bicycle Repair Work Station |
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What You'll Learn
- PDX is the airport code for Portland International Airport
- PDX is used as a synonym for the city of Portland, Oregon
- PDX is also used to differentiate from Portland, Maine
- Portland International Airport is loved for its local food, tax-free shopping and complimentary Wi-Fi
- The airport is located just south of the Columbia River

PDX is the airport code for Portland International Airport
The airport is loved by travellers for its local food and drink, tax-free shopping, complimentary Wi-Fi, and more. It has been voted America's Best Airport multiple times by Travel + Leisure magazine and was the reigning World's Best Domestic Airport from 2013 to 2019.
The Portland City Council purchased the present PDX site in 1936. The airport was initially located on Swan Island in the 1920s but quickly outgrew the space and moved to its current location in the 1930s or 1940. The site was developed with the help of a $1.3 million Works Progress Administration (WPA) grant, providing much-needed jobs during the Great Depression.
The origin of the "X" in PDX is not widely known. One theory suggests that it was added after the weather station code, PD, as many airport names were changed to three-letter codes after World War II. Another theory suggests that it comes from the airport's old carpet.
Today, "PDX" is more than just an airport code; it has become a beloved nickname for the city of Portland itself. Portlanders take great pride in their city and airport, and "PDX" has become a symbol of that pride.
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PDX is used as a synonym for the city of Portland, Oregon
Portland International Airport, commonly known as PDX, is located in Portland, Oregon and is the largest airport in the state. The airport is within Portland's city limits, just south of the Columbia River in Multnomah County. It is approximately 12 miles (19 km) by highway from downtown Portland, and the average one-way trip from the airport to the city centre takes 20-40 minutes by car.
The origin of the "PDX" abbreviation can be traced back to the early days of aviation. As air travel expanded across the country, the need for a standardised airport naming system arose. The "PD" in PDX was derived from the National Weather Service's abbreviation for its local station in Portland. The "X" was added after World War II, as a placeholder to create three-letter airport codes. This was necessary because there were more airports in the country than two-letter abbreviations could accommodate.
The Portland International Airport has gained a reputation for its local food and drink options, tax-free shopping, complimentary Wi-Fi, and convenient light rail connection to downtown. It has consistently been ranked as one of the best airports in the country, even winning the title of "World's Best Domestic Airports" from 2013 to 2019.
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PDX is also used to differentiate from Portland, Maine
Portland International Airport, commonly known as PDX, is located in Portland, Oregon. The airport code PDX is used to differentiate between Portland, Oregon, and Portland, Maine. There are several "Portlands" in the United States and around the world, and each has a unique three-letter code. The use of "PDX" helps to avoid confusion between the two cities.
The "PD" in PDX was originally the National Weather Service's abbreviation for its local station in Portland, Oregon. When air travel expanded across the country, an "X" was added to the airport code, as there were now more airports than two-letter abbreviations could accommodate. This is why Los Angeles' airport code became "LAX" in 1947, and Phoenix's airport code changed from "PH" to "PHX".
The PDX airport code has become a beloved nickname within the city of Portland, Oregon, and is used as a synonym for the city itself. Portlanders have a shared love for their city, and "PDX" has become a way to express that pride. The abbreviation is used on bumper stickers, t-shirts, coffee mugs, and more. It has also been incorporated into the names of local events and places to eat and drink.
The Portland International Airport has been consistently ranked as one of the best airports in the country. It has been voted America's Best Airport Award by Travel + Leisure Magazine's readers multiple times. The airport offers unique amenities, such as a microcinema that showcases films by local filmmakers, local food carts, and a distillery. It also provides easy access to downtown Portland via light rail, and travellers enjoy the local food and drink options, tax-free shopping, and complimentary Wi-Fi that the airport has to offer.
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Portland International Airport is loved for its local food, tax-free shopping and complimentary Wi-Fi
Portland International Airport, commonly known as PDX, is loved by travellers for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the airport offers a selection of local food and drink options, allowing visitors to get a taste of the region's cuisine. The airport also provides tax-free shopping, which is rare for an airport, and there are no markups on prices, making it a great place to shop for travellers. In addition, PDX offers complimentary Wi-Fi, which is a convenient amenity for those who need to stay connected during their travels.
The history of the airport dates back to the 1920s when Portland sought to establish its own municipal airport on Swan Island. The original Swan Island Airport opened in 1927, but by the mid-1930s, it had outgrown the space and relocated to its current location in Northeast Portland. The present site of the airport was purchased by the Portland City Council in 1936, and construction provided much-needed jobs during the Great Depression. Over the years, the airport has undergone various renovations and expansions to meet the growing needs of air travel.
The airport code PDX has become synonymous with the city of Portland itself, and not just the airport. The abbreviation PDX is used by locals and businesses as a source of pride and as a way to identify with their beloved city. The "X" in PDX was added after the weather station code, PD, as a placeholder after World War II when there were more airports than two-letter abbreviations. The airport is served by more than 15 international and domestic airlines, offering around 500 daily flights and direct connections to cities worldwide.
The airport also boasts unique amenities like a microcinema showcasing films by local filmmakers, a distillery, and local food carts in the pre-security area. PDX has been consistently ranked as one of the best airports in the country and was voted America's Best Airport by Travel + Leisure magazine's readers on multiple occasions. With its convenient location, efficient transportation options, and passenger-friendly amenities, Portland International Airport has become a beloved gateway to the city of Portland.
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The airport is located just south of the Columbia River
Portland International Airport, commonly known as PDX, is located just south of the Columbia River in Multnomah County, 12 miles (19 km) by highway northeast of downtown Portland. The airport covers 3,000 acres (1,214 ha) of land and is within the city limits of Portland.
The airport's location along the Columbia River has presented some challenges over the years, particularly in terms of flooding. To address this issue, workers covered the area with over 4 million cubic yards (3,100,000 m3) of sand to help drain the land of water, and constructed a series of dikes to control flooding. This was particularly important during the construction of the airport in the 1920s and 1930s, as the low-lying area was frequently covered by flood waters from the river.
The Portland City Council purchased the present PDX site in 1936. The site was 700 acres (280 ha) and bordered by the Columbia River to the north and the Columbia Slough to the south. The city council issued $300,000 and secured a $1.3 million Works Progress Administration (WPA) grant to develop the site into a "super airport". The construction of the airport provided much-needed jobs during the Great Depression, employing over 1,000 men.
Today, Portland International Airport is easily accessible from downtown Portland by car, with an average one-way trip taking 20-40 minutes. The airport also boasts an easy light rail connection to the city centre, as well as taxi, Uber, and Lyft services.
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Frequently asked questions
PDX stands for Portland International Airport.
PDX is the IATA (International Air Transport Association) code for Portland, Oregon. The airport code is made up of the first letter of the city, the last letter of the city, and a placeholder "X" tagged onto airport names after World War II.
PDX offers local food and drink, tax-free shopping, complimentary Wi-Fi, a microcinema, a distillery, and a work station for repairing bicycles.










































