Owais Crawford
Portland International Jetport (PWM) is Maine's largest airport, located just off Exit 46 of the Maine Turnpike/I-95. The airport first opened in the 1920s as Stroudwater Airport, founded by Dr. Clifford Kip Strange, who needed space for his JN-4 Jenny Biplane. Portland International Jetport offers nonstop flights to over a dozen cities across the U.S. and Canada, as well as worldwide connections.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Portland International Jetport Airport |
| Airport Code | PWM |
| Location | Just off Exit 46 of the Maine Turnpike/I-95 |
| Founding Date | Late 1920s |
| Founder | Dr. Clifford "Kip" Strange |
| First Commercial Service | August 1, 1931 |
| Current Terminal Opening Year | 1968 |
| Amenities | Gift shop/newsstand, Visitor Information Center, ATM, a place to walk your dog, snack bar, and the Shipyard Brewport restaurant |
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What You'll Learn
Portland International Jetport history
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 one of the fastest-growing airports in the nation, serving most of the major domestic airlines and over 1.6 million passengers a year.
The airport's history can be traced back to the late 1920s when Dr. Clifford "Kip" Strange, a native of Portland, Maine, created a private space on his extensive Portland land for his plane. Soon, other flyers were attracted to the couple of grass runways on his land. In 1934, Boston & Maine Airways inaugurated airline service at the Portland facility when it moved from Scarborough. The City of Portland bought the airfield in 1936 and built a third runway. The 1930s were a time of colourful characters performing in air shows and unauthorised dogfights. In 1940, the Works Progress Administration built Portland’s first real terminal, a brick structure that is now the general aviation terminal.
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 airport was also the base for Civil Air Patrol planes that searched coastal waters for enemy submarines.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the airport began to take its current form. 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. The airport's first jets were Pan Am 707-321s, which began operating in October 1959.
In 1972, Northeast was bought by Delta Airlines, which remains one of the major carriers at the Jetport. The 1970s and 1980s saw the influx of other airlines, and the airport experienced strong growth starting in 1983. In 2009, international service resumed, with Starlink Aviation announcing service between Portland and Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. In 2010, Air Canada launched a twice-daily Portland-Toronto service, but it pulled out of Portland in 2013, leaving PWM without scheduled international service again.
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 Jetport 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.
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Jetport terminal improvements
Portland International Jetport (IATA: PWM), locally known as the 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 has undergone several terminal improvements over the years, with a $75 million expansion project taking place in 2010 and 2011. This project included improvements to check-in and security areas, reconfiguration of airport access roads, and expansion of the parking garage. The new terminal features a geothermal heating and cooling system, which is expected to reduce heating oil consumption significantly.
In addition to the previous expansion, the Jetport has planned or ongoing improvements in various areas. These include the general-aviation ramp, cargo ramp and facilities, taxiway alignment, de-icing facilities, and lengthening of Runway 18/36.
The Jetport has also addressed noise concerns by developing a new approach procedure to reduce aircraft noise over residential areas. This procedure will allow planes to stay over Casco Bay and the Fore River during low-visibility, windy, or high-traffic conditions when approaching from the east.
As of November 2024, Portland Jetport planned nearly $5 million in improvements, including upgrades to the passenger terminal building, further development of the parking garage, and a new over-the-water flight path to minimise noise complaints from nearby neighbourhoods.
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Jetport amenities
Portland International Jetport (IATA: PWM, ICAO: KPWM, FAA LID: PWM), locally known as the Jetport, is a public airport located two miles (3 km) west of downtown Portland, Maine, United States. The airport is owned and operated by the City of Portland.
The Jetport provides various amenities for its passengers. The airport features a geothermal heating and cooling system, which is the largest of its kind in Maine and is expected to significantly reduce the Jetport's consumption of heating oil. The airport also offers free Wi-Fi and parking. Additionally, the airport has a comfortable passenger waiting area and a pilot rest area.
The Jetport has a range of accommodations for passengers, including hotels nearby that offer free breakfast and free parking. These include the Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Maine, the Casco Bay Hotel, and the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Portland.
The airport has undergone several expansions and improvements to enhance the experience of its passengers. In 2010, construction began on an expanded terminal, which opened in October 2011. This $75 million project brought improvements to check-in and security areas, reconfigured airport access roads, and rehabilitated and expanded the parking garage.
The Jetport also has a strong focus on jet aircraft operations, with longer runways to accommodate the high-speed requirements of jets and advanced navigation systems for jet traffic.
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Jetport accessibility
Portland International Jetport (PWM) is Maine's largest airport. The airport is wheelchair accessible, with attendants contracted by individual airlines providing assistance at no extra charge. This can be scheduled in advance by contacting your airline. Upon arrival at the airport, the airline representative will call the attendant once you've identified yourself at the ticket counter. If you need assistance from the curb, you or the person dropping you off can obtain a wheelchair from inside the Terminal lobby. Accessible parking spaces are also available in the Terminal garage, and the Pink Lot operates a free shuttle bus that is wheelchair accessible.
Service animals are allowed throughout the airport, in accordance with Title II and Title III of the ADA. Passengers with a wheelchair, stroller, or service animal may use the designated entrance for direct access to security. A TSA Cares helpline is available to provide additional assistance during the security screening process for travellers with disabilities, medical conditions, or other special circumstances. It is recommended to call TSA Cares 72 hours ahead of travel.
In the case of an emergency, audio-visual fire alarms and automated external defibrillators are available throughout the airport. All parking facilities offer handicapped spaces, and the Terminal Garage provides accessible routes with curb ramps. During periods of high volume, such as Spring Break, parking lots may fill up quickly, and travellers are advised to add an extra 20 minutes to their travel time.
The Greater Portland, Maine region is committed to ensuring accessibility and safety for all visitors. Age Friendly Portland, an initiative launched in 2018, assists local businesses in identifying accessibility criteria. The Portland Information Center at Ocean Gateway provides resources and assistance for visitors, including materials offered in multiple languages.
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Jetport flight connections
Portland International Jetport Airport (PWM) is Maine's largest airport. It is located in Portland, South Maine.
The Jetport is served by several airlines, including Frontier Airlines, which operates flights to destinations across the United States. For example, Frontier Airlines offers flights to Orlando International Airport, with return flights costing around $100. These flights are often priced differently, with some flights being priced at $98, $108, and $113.
There are also flights to Jacksonville International Airport, with a one-way flight costing $118. Frontier Airlines also operates flights to Tampa International Airport, with a one-way flight costing $150, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, with a return flight costing $160.
In addition to Frontier Airlines, other airlines serving the Portland International Jetport Airport include Hilton, which has a business-friendly hotel in South Portland, and Embassy Suites, which offers free breakfast, WiFi, and parking.
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Frequently asked questions
Portland International Jetport, also known as Portland Jetport or PWM.
The airfield was founded in the late 1920s by Dr. Clifford "Kip" Strange for his JN-4 "Jenny" Biplane. It was originally called Stroudwater Airport and received its first commercial service in 1931. The city of Portland purchased the airfield in 1937 and renamed it Portland-Westbrook Municipal Airport.
Airlines operating from the airport include Frontier Airlines and Business Express, which operated as Delta Connection. Air Canada also previously served the airport.
Nonstop destinations include Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Halifax, New York, Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia, Sarasota, and Washington D.C. The airport also offers worldwide connections.
The airport is located just off Exit 46 of the Maine Turnpike/I-95, or via Exit 3 on I-295. It can also be accessed via Portland Metro Bus and Congress Street for local traffic.
