Portland International Airport handles roughly 90% of Oregon’s passenger air travel and over 95% of its air cargo. If you’re flying in or out of Oregon, you’re almost certainly going through PDX.
The airport sits about 12 miles northeast of downtown Portland in Multnomah County. In 2024, PDX served 17.5 million passengers, which dwarfs every other airport in the state by a wide margin. It covers around 3,000 acres and functions as a hub for Alaska Airlines, giving it solid connectivity across the western US and beyond.
Why PDX Dominates Oregon Aviation
No other Oregon airport comes close in terms of passenger volume, route network, or international service. PDX flies to destinations across the US, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, and Iceland. Eugene Airport (EUG) serves the state’s second-largest city but handles a fraction of the traffic. Redmond Municipal (RDM) covers Central Oregon, and Rogue Valley International (MFR) takes care of southern Oregon. None of them offer anything resembling PDX’s international reach.
The Terminal Renovation Everyone’s Talking About
Phase one of a major terminal overhaul opened in August 2024 as part of the $2 billion PDX Next modernization program. The big headline: it’s the first mass timber roof at any major US airport. The Pacific Northwest vibe is deliberate and honestly pretty striking if you haven’t been through recently.
PDX has a long history of winning traveler polls. Travel + Leisure named it the best US airport every year from 2013 to 2019 and again in 2021. Conde Nast Traveler included it in their “World’s Most Beautiful Airports” list in 2025. The renovation should keep that streak going.
Terminal Layout and Getting Around
One terminal, four concourses (B, C, D, and E), 60 gates total. The layout is straightforward compared to multi-terminal airports like DFW or JFK. Most gates are a short walk from security, and the whole place is designed around natural light and open spaces.
The food and shop selection leans heavily into Portland’s local scene — craft beer from area breweries, good coffee, and farm-to-table options. Portland also mandates street pricing at PDX, so you’re not paying the typical 30-40% airport markup on food. More airports should copy this, but so far nobody has.
Airlines at PDX
Alaska Airlines uses PDX as a hub, which drives most of the West Coast connectivity. In May 2025, Alaska started shifting some connecting flights from Seattle to Portland to ease crowding at Sea-Tac, which bumped PDX’s role as a regional hub.
Other carriers serving Portland International:
- Delta Air Lines
- United Airlines
- American Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- JetBlue Airways
- Frontier Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
International service comes from Icelandair, Condor, and seasonal operators running direct routes to Europe.
Ground Transportation
MAX Light Rail: The Red Line runs from PDX to downtown Portland in about 40 minutes. Frequent trains, affordable fares, no traffic to deal with. This is the move for most travelers heading into the city.
Rideshare and Taxis: Uber and Lyft have designated pickup areas outside the terminal. Taxis are available curbside.
Rental Cars: The rental car center connects to the terminal by a short shuttle. Hertz, Enterprise, Budget, Avis, and the usual lineup all operate out of PDX.
Before You Go
Arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international departures. TSA PreCheck and CLEAR lanes are available. The airport offers free WiFi across the entire terminal, and charging stations are scattered throughout all four concourses.
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