The best airport in the United States is looking pretty fly these days.
Portland International Airport — ranked No. 1 in the country by Travel + Leisure — is undergoing a series of renovations collectively called “PDX NEXT” to the tune of $2 billion. Wednesday marked the debut of the second project’s completion: an expanded Concourse B.
Concourse B previously had just two gates. Concourse A was demolished to make room for 10 B gates for Alaska Airlines + Horizon Air flights, as well as two new commercial spaces. The latter will be home to Portland staples Good Coffee and Screen Door. Chicken + waffles before hopping on a plane? Yes please.
From Concourse B, travelers can feast their eyes on wide views of the airfield thanks to 8,900 sqft. of south-facing windows + 38-ft ceilings. Long layover? With 500 comfortable seats + hundreds of places to charge your tech, the wait will fly by.
Concourse E opened a year-and-a-half ago and was the first completed portion of PDX NEXT. The next project is the most ambitious in the series: the main terminal is getting a facelift, expansion + a new, all-wood roof. If you’ve flown out of PDX recently, then you know construction is already underway.
When the new terminal is finished in 2025, travelers will be greeted by a park-like vibe with live trees + natural light from overhead skylights and glass walls. Going to the airport will be a walk in the park.
The overall feel is meant to echo Portland’s character + plunge visitors straight into the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. As if we needed more proof that PDX is the best airport — these upgrades will undoubtedly seal Portland’s place as the best US city for a layover.
Can’t wait to see the new Concourse B? Check out this virtual tour.
