Portland International Airport: The Rose City's Main Gateway

which is the main portland airport

Portland International Airport (PDX) is the main airport in Portland, Oregon. It is the largest airport in the state, accounting for 90% of Oregon's passenger air travel and over 95% of its air cargo. The airport is located just south of the Columbia River, 12 miles (19 km) by highway from downtown Portland. Portland International Airport offers 500 flights daily, including direct flights to cities throughout the United States and internationally to countries such as Canada, Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Iceland.

Characteristics Values
Name Portland International Airport
IATA Airport Code PDX
ICAO KPDX
FAA LID PDX
Location Within Portland's city limits, just south of the Columbia River in Multnomah County, Oregon
Distance from Downtown Portland 6 miles (10 km) by air, 12 miles (19 km) by highway
Travel Time to Downtown 20-40 minutes by car, 45 minutes by MAX Light Rail Red Line
Transport Options Taxi, Uber, Lyft, Light Rail
Transport Cost Adult ticket for the MAX Light Rail is $2.80, taxi fare is about $50
Number of Daily Flights 500
Destinations Cities throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Iceland, and more
Airlines Alaska Airlines, Western Airlines, United Airlines, Horizon Air, Pan Am
Terminals One passenger terminal with four concourses (B, C, D, and E)
History Portland's first airport was Swan Island Municipal Airport, which opened in 1927. The current airport was constructed starting in 1936 and opened in 1941.

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Portland International Airport (PDX) is the largest airport in Oregon

PDX offers 500 scheduled passenger arrivals and departures daily, with direct flights to cities throughout the United States and several other countries, including Canada, Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Iceland. The airport is a hub for Alaska Airlines and offers a maintenance facility for its subsidiary, Horizon Air. More than 60 U.S. cities provide non-stop flights to Portland, with international direct flights from Amsterdam, Calgary, Frankfurt, Guadalajara, London, Puerto Vallarta, Toronto, and Vancouver, British Columbia.

The airport boasts an array of amenities, including an easy light rail connection to downtown, free Wi-Fi, local food and drink options, and tax-free shopping. The MAX Light Rail Red Line provides a convenient and affordable connection to the city, with an approximate travel time of 45 minutes.

Portland International Airport has a rich history, with the present site purchased in 1936 after the previous Swan Island Municipal Airport became obsolete. Construction of the airport provided much-needed jobs during the Great Depression, employing over 1,000 men. The airport has undergone several expansions and renovations over the years, including a major renovation completed in 2024, with the remainder expected to be finished by early 2026.

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It is a civil-military airport with direct flights to several countries

Portland International Airport (PDX) is the main airport in Portland, Oregon. It is a civil-military airport with direct flights to several countries. The airport is located within Portland's city limits, just south of the Columbia River in Multnomah County. It is about 6 miles (10 km) by air and 12 miles (19 km) by highway from downtown Portland.

The airport offers an easy light rail connection to the city centre, with trains arriving and departing every 15 to 30 minutes. The one-way trip from the airport to downtown Portland takes approximately 20 to 40 minutes by car, and there are also taxi, Uber, and Lyft services available at the airport.

Portland International Airport is the largest airport in Oregon, accounting for 90% of the state's passenger air travel and more than 95% of its air cargo. It offers more than 60 nonstop flights daily to destinations within the United States, as well as several other countries. These include Canada, Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Iceland.

The airport has a long history, with Portland's first airport, Swan Island Municipal Airport, dating back to the 1920s. The current site of Portland International Airport was purchased in 1936, and the airport was known as the "Portland–Columbia Airport" during its construction. It faced challenges due to frequent flooding from the Columbia River, which was addressed by drainage and the construction of dikes. The airport served the United States Army Air Forces during World War II and has continued to expand and develop over the years.

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The airport has one passenger terminal with five concourses

Portland International Airport (PDX) is the main airport serving Portland, Oregon. It is the largest airport in the state, accounting for 90% of Oregon's passenger air travel and over 95% of its air cargo. The airport is located within Portland's city limits, just south of the Columbia River in Multnomah County. It is about 12 miles (19 km) from downtown Portland by highway and 6 miles (10 km) by air.

The airport has one passenger terminal composed of four concourses, designated B, C, D, and E. The terminal features a breathtakingly massive latticed skylight that welcomes travellers. The concourses are connected by a concourse connector, which was closed in January 2021 to make way for expansion.

The airport offers an easy light rail connection to downtown Portland, with trains arriving and departing every 15 to 30 minutes. The one-way trip from the airport to downtown takes approximately 20 to 40 minutes by car, depending on traffic and time of day.

Portland's first airport was the Swan Island Municipal Airport, located northwest of downtown Portland on the Willamette River. However, by 1935, it became apparent that the airport was becoming obsolete and couldn't accommodate larger aircraft. As a result, plans were made to relocate to a larger site, and the present site for Portland International Airport was purchased in 1936.

Today, Portland International Airport offers direct flights to cities throughout the United States and several other countries, including Canada, Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Iceland. It serves as a hub for Alaska Airlines and provides a maintenance facility for Horizon Air, an Alaska Air subsidiary.

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It is accessible via the MAX Light Rail Red Line from downtown Portland

Portland International Airport (PDX) is accessible via the MAX Light Rail Red Line from downtown Portland. The MAX Light Rail Red Line is the easiest and most convenient way to travel between Portland International Airport and downtown Portland. The train journey takes approximately 45 minutes, and trains arrive and depart every 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the time of day. The first train arrives at Portland International Airport at 4:50 a.m., and the last train departs at 12:30 a.m.

The MAX Light Rail Red Line station and ticket machines are located on the lower level of the airport, next to the south baggage claim area. Passengers can easily find the station by turning right at the base of the escalator. The one-way fare for adults is $2.80, while youth and "Honored Citizen" fares are $1.40. Passengers can purchase tickets from the machines at the station or through the TriMet website, which also provides the latest information on ticket prices and schedules.

Taking the MAX Light Rail Red Line is a convenient option for passengers travelling with luggage, as they are allowed to bring their luggage on board. Additionally, the airport offers other transportation options such as taxis, Ubers, and Lyfts, which are available at Level 1 of the Short-Term Parking Garage. Shuttle services can also be found at the bottom entrance of the terminal, outside the baggage claim area.

Portland International Airport, located just south of the Columbia River in Multnomah County, is the largest airport in Oregon and handles 90% of the state's passenger air travel. It offers direct flights to cities across the United States and several other countries, including Canada, Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Iceland. The airport also has a maintenance facility for Horizon Air, a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines.

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The airport's history dates back to 1926 with Swan Island Municipal Airport

Portland International Airport (PDX) is the main airport in Portland, Oregon, serving 90% of the state's passenger air travel and over 95% of its air cargo. The airport is a joint civil-military airport, located within Portland's city limits, just south of the Columbia River.

The history of airports in Portland dates back to 1926 with the Swan Island Municipal Airport. Construction began in 1926 when the Port of Portland purchased 256 acres of land on Swan Island in the Willamette River. Although most facilities were finished in 1926, the official opening of the Swan Island Municipal Airport was in 1927, on September 27, 1927, during the Pacific Coast Air Derby, where six army planes performed for 10,000 spectators. The airport was dedicated by Charles Lindbergh, who flew in and landed "like a feather with the punctuality of a crack railroad train", according to the Oregon Journal.

The Swan Island Municipal Airport was a joint civil-military airport. While it officially opened in 1927, the United States Postal Service had been using the airfield for a year. The airport was operational for nearly two decades, but due to advances in aviation, it soon became obsolete. The small airfield couldn't easily be expanded, and it couldn't accommodate larger aircraft or the expected increase in passenger numbers.

By the late 1930s, the Portland–Columbia Super Airport was completed, and the Swan Island Municipal Airport saw little use. Its runways were too small for newer aircraft, and the low altitude made takeoffs and landings difficult. During World War II, the Swan Island site was converted into a war production area, with a Kaiser shipyard located there.

Today, the Swan Island area is used by the Port of Portland as an industrial park. The Portland International Airport has expanded and upgraded over the years, with a new terminal opening in 1959, and various expansions in 1977, 1986, 1992, and 1994. The airport now covers 3,000 acres of land and offers direct flights to cities throughout the United States and several other countries, including Canada, Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Iceland.

Frequently asked questions

Portland International Airport.

PDX.

The MAX Light Rail Red Line is the easiest way to travel to and from the airport.

Portland International Airport boasts local food and drink, free Wi-Fi, and tax-free shopping.

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