Traveling via plane is fun — jet-setting over beautiful blue waters or rolling hills, taking in cloud formations, and landing in a completely different location in a matter of hours is unlike anything else.
The whole navigating the airport part? Less exciting, and sometimes pretty stressful. To help make your time at Portland International Airport as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from gates and parking to details on some of the airport’s nonstop flights.
Current airport updates
If you’ve been to Portland International Airport recently, you’ve likely seen construction on its new main terminal — complete with a 9-acre Douglas fir ceiling, 49 skylights, trees that recreate “a walk through the forest.” It’s all part of a $2 billion investment to improve and grow PDX, which already expanded Concourse E, updated Concourse B, and consolidated the ground transit system.
This multi-phase development is expected to be completed in December 2025, but Phase 1 landed last August with:
- New check-in counters reoriented into four “islands”
- A streamlined security process
- New exhibits showcasing local artists
- Pre-security stadium seating, a mezzanine restaurant, and new restrooms
- The ability to get to all four concourses post-security
- 14 local restaurants, shops, and kiosks, including local favorites like Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Loyal Legion, and Powell’s Books, in addition to larger brands like Pendleton and Columbia
- An old favorite — PDX’s beloved teal carpet
PDX is still working on Phase 2, meaning construction walls will remain in the main terminal until both phases are open. The ongoing construction allows for fewer flight reductions and delays, but means travelers may face detours.
PDX recommends allotting extra time for your travels, and your experience may look different during construction thanks to relocated bathrooms and longer detours to access Concourses B and E. Arriving passengers will also need to follow temporary, rerouted exit lanes.
Phase 2 will add more exits and escalators to baggage claim, additional all-user restrooms, new mosaic art, and waiting areas. It will also bring the total number of new retailers to 24, with shops opening through early 2026.
Two new video walls will display a 24-hour art installation with Oregon-inspired landscapes that change according to the time of day, the weather, and how many people are traveling through PDX.
Photo via Port of Portland
What to know
- Parking | Not everyone has a bestie who will drop everything to pick them up from their 3 a.m. landing. Each lot and garage costs $4 an hour; beyond that, the price per day ranges from $15-$30 per day. PDX also recommends Broadway Cab Company, TriMet MAX, or Caravan Airport Transportation if you’d prefer a shuttle, rideshare, or taxi service.
- TSA | According to the PDX website, travelers should arrive at the airport two hours before a domestic flight during the busy early morning hours, or three hours before an international flight. Use this handy tool to check security wait times.
- Map it out | If you’re like us and need to completely visualize a place before you step foot inside, these maps of the entire airport will be your saving grace.
- Food and drink | From Southern comfort food at Screen Door to craft beer at Deschutes Brewery, Portland International Airport is home to a plethora of acclaimed eatery outposts. We put together a list of restaurants and where to find them within the airport.
- Reminder | As of May 7, 2025, you now need a REAL ID (or another acceptable form of identification, like a valid passport) to board commercial flights in the US.
- Flight status | While we recommend staying updated via your respective airline, you can also check the airport’s dashboard for your flight status in a pinch.
Smile, it’s Stumptown.
Photo by @tyler.hamilton
Nonstop flights
PDX offers 70 nonstop flights — 59 domestic, plus 11 international flights to six countries.
Bonus: Get lower fares by signing up for Going. You’ll get emailed when flights are 40-90% cheaper than usual. Get a two-week free trial of the Premium plan, which lets you set custom destination flight alerts (score).
Pro tip: Remember that flight times and schedules will often change — you should rely on your respective airline for exact timing and to stay updated on any changes.
- Amsterdam | Royal Dutch Airlines
- Austin | Alaska Airlines
- Cancun | Alaska Airlines
- Frankfurt | Condor
- Ft. Lauderdale | Alaska Airlines
- Honolulu | Alaska Airlines
- Keflavik | Icelandair
- London | British Airways
- Puerto Vallarta | Alaska Airlines
