Editing Portland International Airport (section)

==History==
Portland's first airport was the [[Swan Island Municipal Airport]],<ref name="swanisl1935">{{cite web |title=Swan Island Airport, 1935 |author=City of Portland Archives |url=http://vintageportland.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/swan-island-airport-1935/ |work=Vintage Portland |date=February 1, 2012 |access-date=November 4, 2012 |quote=Portland's main airport on Swan Island was only open a few years before it became obvious that the site offered little expansion room. The year after this 1935 photo, land was purchased along the Columbia River for a new airport. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522125520/http://vintageportland.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/swan-island-airport-1935/ |archive-date=May 22, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> northwest of downtown Portland on the [[Willamette River]]. The Port of Portland purchased {{convert|256|acre}} and construction began in 1926. [[Charles Lindbergh]] flew in and dedicated the new airfield in 1927.

By 1935 it was becoming apparent to the Port of Portland that the airport was becoming obsolete.<ref name="swanisl1935" /> The small airfield couldn't easily be expanded, nor could it accommodate the larger aircraft and passenger loads expected to become common to Portland. Plans immediately were conceived to relocate the outdated airfield to a larger site. The Swan Island area is now used by the Port of Portland as [[Swan Island Industrial Park|an industrial park]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Airport History| first1=Hien| last1=Bui| first2=Michelle| last2=Kain| url=http://www.ccrh.org/comm/slough/airport1.htm| publisher=Center for Columbia River History| date=February 14, 2011| access-date=October 21, 2006| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060519133521/http://www.ccrh.org/comm/slough/airport1.htm| archive-date=May 19, 2006| url-status=live}}</ref>

===Construction and early operations===
The Portland City Council purchased the present PDX site in 1936. It was {{convert|700|acre}} bordered by the Columbia River in the north and the [[Columbia Slough]] in the south. The city council issued US$300,000 and asked the Port of Portland to sponsor a US$1.3 million [[Works Progress Administration]] (WPA) grant to develop the site into a "super airport". The project provided badly needed [[Great Depression]]-era jobs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Subtopic : Oregon in Depression and War, 1925–1945: The Most Visible of Relief Agencies|first=William|last=Robbins G.|url=http://www.ohs.org/education/oregonhistory/narratives/subtopic.cfm?subtopic_ID=106|work=The Oregon History Project|publisher=Oregon Historical Society|year=2002|access-date=August 29, 2008|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907171205/http://www.ohs.org/education/oregonhistory/narratives/subtopic.cfm?subtopic_ID=106|archive-date=September 7, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Construction of the airport steadily employed over 1,000 men, and was described by historian Neil Barker as "Portland's most significant public works improvement during the New Deal era".<ref name="Barker 2000">{{cite journal |author=Neil Barker |title=Portland's Works Progress Administration |journal=Oregon Historical Quarterly |date=Winter 2000 |volume=101 |issue=4 |pages=420–21 |jstor=20615092}}</ref> The WPA and Port of Portland faced difficulties in preparing the site for construction because the low-lying area was frequently covered by flood waters from the Columbia River. Workers covered the area with over {{convert|4|e6cuyd|m3}} of sand to help drain it of water, and constructed a series of dikes to control flooding. Two runways capable of serving the modern aircraft of the time were operational by 1941.<ref name="Barker 2000" /> The airport was designated "Portland–Columbia Airport" to distinguish it from then-operating Swan Island Airport. During [[World War II]], the airfield was used by the [[United States Army Air Forces]].

The "super airport" had a terminal on the north side, off Marine Drive, and five runways (NE-SW, NW-SE, and an E-W runway forming an [[asterisk]]). This configuration was adequate until a new terminal and a longer, {{convert|8800|ft|adj=on}} east–west runway were constructed in 1952.<ref>View airport diagrams: [https://www.flickr.com/photos/12530375@N08/8089879563/sizes/h 1955] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118204041/https://www.flickr.com/photos/12530375@N08/8089879563/sizes/h |date=November 18, 2016 }} and [https://www.flickr.com/photos/12530375@N08/8089804313/sizes/h 1965]</ref>{{better source needed|date=December 2024}}

In 1948 the entire airport grounds were flooded during the [[Vanport Flood]], forcing scheduled airline services to reroute to nearby [[Troutdale Airport]]. The grounds were under water for several months.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

===New terminal (1950s)===
Portland's first jets were Pan Am 707-321s about October 1959.{{cn|date=August 2023}} A new terminal opened in 1959, which for the most part serves as the present facility.<ref name="timeline"/> The new terminal is located to the east of the original runways, and north of the then-new {{convert|8,800|ft|m|abbr=on}} runway. Construction of a second east–west runway to the north made this a midfield terminal. At this point, all but the NE-SW (3/21) runway in the original "X" were abandoned and turned into taxiways. 3/21 was extended for use as a cross-wind runway. "International" was added to the airport's official designation after the 1950s-era improvements.

[[File:N4522W B737-247 Western A-l PDX 17MAR73 (6157950967).jpg|thumb|A Western Airlines Boeing 737 at the airport in 1973]]

The first international nonstop was Western's 720B to [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], in 1967.{{cn|date=August 2023}} Plans made in 1968 to add a third runway by means of filling in parts of the Columbia River were met with vocal public opposition and scrapped. The airport switched from screening passengers at individual gates to screening all visitors at concourse entrances in 1973 as new FAA regulations went into effect.<ref>{{cite news| title=Portland Airport's Security Screening Procedures to Shift| newspaper=The Oregonian| location=Portland| date=January 4, 1973| page=24}}</ref> By 1974, the airport was served by Braniff, Cascade, Continental, Eastern, Hughes Airwest, Northwest Orient, Pan Am, United and Western, and the Seattle route was served by seven airlines with aircraft as large as [[Boeing 747]]s.<ref>{{cite web| title=Airlines and Aircraft Serving Portland, Oregon Effective April 1, 1974| url=http://www.departedflights.com/PDX74intro.html| publisher=departedflights.com| access-date=September 8, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131045913/http://www.departedflights.com/PDX74intro.html| archive-date=January 31, 2016| url-status=live}}</ref> In 1974, the south runway was extended to {{convert|11000|ft}} to service the newest jumbo jets. The terminal building was renovated and expanded in 1977.<ref name="timeline"/>

United was the dominant carrier at PDX during the regulated era and through the 1980s.<ref name="vinay">{{cite web |last1=Bhaskara |first1=Vinay |title=A Detailed Look at Delta Air Lines History in Portland – Guest Blog |date=October 27, 2011 |url=http://www.airlinereporter.com/2011/10/a-detailed-look-at-delta-air-lines-history-in-portland-guest-blog/ |publisher=Airline Reporter |access-date=September 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005072212/http://www.airlinereporter.com/2011/10/a-detailed-look-at-delta-air-lines-history-in-portland-guest-blog/ |archive-date=October 5, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Air Oregon]] started short-haul service from Portland following deregulation in 1978, and by 1979 had routes to seven other cities in Oregon.<ref>{{cite web| title=Airlines and Aircraft Serving Portland, Oregon Effective November 15, 1979| url=http://www.departedflights.com/PDX79intro.html| publisher=departedflights.com| access-date=September 8, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131080609/http://www.departedflights.com/PDX79intro.html| archive-date=January 31, 2016| url-status=live}}</ref> In April 1983, United Airlines began a flight from Chicago to Tokyo's Narita Airport that stopped in Seattle–Tacoma six days a week and in Portland once a week. The company operated the service with Boeing 747s.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/statesman-journal/130679730/ | title=UAL offers Portland-Tokyo flights | work=Statesman Journal | date=February 11, 1983 | agency=Associated Press | access-date=August 26, 2023 | location=Salem, OR | archive-date=August 26, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826141932/https://www.newspapers.com/article/statesman-journal/130679730/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian/130679785/ | title=Tokyo service | work=The Columbian | date=May 1, 1983 | access-date=August 26, 2023 | location=Vancouver, WA | archive-date=August 26, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826141934/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian/130679785/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Meanwhile, [[Delta Air Lines]] wanted to add Tokyo to its network, but it lacked aircraft that could fly there nonstop from its Atlanta base. Consequently, the company established a "Pacific gateway" in Portland, a small hub for routes to Asia.<ref name="bj487">{{cite news | title=Port lobbyist shows how to pull the right strings | work=The Business Journal | date=April 27, 1987 | author=Wilkerson, Jan | location=Portland, OR}}</ref><ref name="dl900">{{cite press release | title=Delta to discontinue Portland, Ore., service to Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan | publisher=Delta Air Lines | date=September 7, 2000 | id={{ProQuest|445970663}}}}</ref><ref name="ny800">{{cite news | access-date=January 1, 2007 | archive-date=November 10, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110185801/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/31/us/besmirched-deportland-wrestles-with-the-ins.html | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/31/us/besmirched-deportland-wrestles-with-the-ins.html | title=Besmirched 'Deportland' Wrestles With the I.N.S. | date=August 31, 2000 | last=Howe-Verhovek | first=Sam | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | url-status=live}}</ref> Delta began service from Portland to Tokyo in March 1987.<ref name="bj487" /><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/statesman-journal/130680994/ | title=United will transfer Tokyo flight service | work=Statesman Journal | date=January 28, 1987 | agency=Associated Press | access-date=August 26, 2023 | location=Salem, OR | archive-date=August 26, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826144840/https://www.newspapers.com/article/statesman-journal/130680994/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

By the 1980s, the terminal building began an extensive renovation in order to update PDX to meet future needs. The ticketing and baggage claim areas were renovated and expanded, and a new Concourse D for Alaska Airlines was added in 1986.<ref>{{cite news |title=Airport Construction |first=Judy |last=Rooks |newspaper=The Oregonian |location=Portland |date=May 27, 1986}}</ref> Concourse E was first to be reconstructed in 1992, and featured PDX's first moving sidewalks.<ref name="timeline">{{cite news |title=Portland International Airport Timeline |url=http://djcoregon.com/news/2003/06/30/portland-international-airport-timeline/ |newspaper=[[Daily Journal of Commerce]] |location=Portland |date=June 30, 2003 |access-date=June 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140901131909/http://djcoregon.com/news/2003/06/30/portland-international-airport-timeline/ |archive-date=September 1, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Oregon Marketplace, a small shopping mall, was added in the former waiting areas behind the ticket counters.{{cn|date=August 2023}} The early 1990s saw a food court and extension added to Concourse C, and the opening of the new Concourse D in 1994.<ref name="timeline"/> This marked the first concessions inside secured areas, allowing passengers to purchase items without having to be re-screened.{{cn|date=August 2023}} An expanded parking garage, new control tower, and canopy over the curbside were finished in the late 1990s. Although hailed by architectural critics, the canopy blocked views of [[Mount Hood]] from the curbside. On July 31, 1997, during construction, the garage addition collapsed due to inadequate bolts holding girders together and inadequate securing of structural members, killing three steelworkers.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.nwlaborpress.org/2002/4-19-02OSHA.html| title=OR-OSHA reaches $1 million settlement on 1997 airport garage collapse| publisher=NW Labor Press| access-date=August 27, 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914065211/http://www.nwlaborpress.org/2002/4-19-02OSHA.html| archive-date=September 14, 2016| url-status=live}}</ref>

Delta added domestic flights to Portland to feed the Asia routes.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Northwest Spoke: PDX Uses Innovative Tactics To Secure Air Service | author=Unnikrishnan, Madhu | journal=Aviation Week & Space Technology | volume=172 | issue=33 | date=September 6, 2010 | id={{EBSCOhost|501674534}}}}</ref> In 1995, the carrier offered nonstop service to Tokyo, Seoul, Nagoya, and Taipei, with the Taipei flight continuing on to Bangkok.<ref>{{cite news | title=Delta plans to reduce its flights to Taipei | work=The Oregonian | date=August 4, 1995 | author=Barnett, Jim}}</ref> It also flew to eight domestic cities, such as Atlanta, New York, and San Francisco.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.departedflights.com/PDX95intro.html | title=Airlines and Aircraft Serving Portland, Oregon | work=Official Airline Guide: North American Edition | date=April 2, 1995 | access-date=August 26, 2023 | archive-date=August 26, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826190603/http://www.departedflights.com/PDX95intro.html | url-status=live }}</ref> However, Delta faced obstacles to the success of its operation in Portland. These included the [[1997 Asian financial crisis]] and complaints about the treatment of Asian passengers at the immigration facility in Portland, which led to the nickname "Deportland."<ref name="ny800" /><ref name="co500">{{cite news | title=Delta to review Portland-Japan flights | work=The Columbian | date=May 4, 2000 | author=Rogoway, Mike | location=Vancouver, WA | id={{ProQuest|253063483}}}}</ref> Moreover, airlines were introducing more flights from the United States to Asia, allowing travelers to bypass the Portland hub.<ref name="co500" /> Delta reduced the number of Asian destinations to two, Tokyo and Nagoya. It finally closed the hub in March 2001 due to financial losses. The move left the airport without transpacific air service.<ref name="dl900" /><ref>{{cite news| title=Delta Cuts Portland Service| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2000/09/04/daily16.html| newspaper=Portland Business Journal| date=September 4, 2000| access-date=October 21, 2006| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207224813/http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2000/09/04/daily16.html| archive-date=February 7, 2006| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=PDX loses Asia flights | work=The Oregonian | date=September 7, 2000 | author=Hill, Gail Kinsey}}</ref>[[File:Portland International Airport PDX check in counters (Quintin Soloviev).jpg|thumb|The old check-in counters before 2024]]The present H-shape of the PDX terminal, designed by [[Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Portland International Airport |first=Sheri |last=Olson |url=http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/bts/archives/transportation/portland/overview.asp |work=[[Architectural Record]] |date=January 1, 2002 |access-date=February 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910023642/http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/bts/archives/transportation/portland/overview.asp |archive-date=September 10, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> was completed on September 10, 2001, when the new A, B and C concourses, as well as the light rail line, were finished. Probably the most stunning portion of PDX's interior, the new concourses reflect a Northwest theme, focusing heavily on the nearby Columbia River. A huge celebration was to be held the following weekend, but the [[September 11 attacks]] interceded. The new concourses, designed to be public spaces, were closed to non-passengers.

[[Lufthansa]] started direct flights to Frankfurt in March 2003. The route was operated by Airbus A340s.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lufthansa to Add Portland Service |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2002/10/21/daily35.html |newspaper=Portland Business Journal |date=October 21, 2002 |access-date=October 21, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040916204049/http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2002/10/21/daily35.html |archive-date=September 16, 2004 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Lufthansa Will End Portland-Frankfurt Flight|first=Richard|last=Read|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/07/lufthansa_to_end_portlandfrank.html|newspaper=The Oregonian|location=Portland|date=July 6, 2009|access-date=July 6, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708000737/http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/07/lufthansa_to_end_portlandfrank.html|archive-date=July 8, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2004, Northwest Airlines introduced nonstop service to its hub at Tokyo-Narita aboard a McDonnell Douglas DC-10. In order to funnel passengers from other American cities onto the flight, Northwest made use of its partnerships with four other carriers instead of adding its own domestic routes to Portland. This strategy was less costly than Delta's.<ref>{{cite press release| title=Northwest To Fly Portland – Tokyo Nonstop| url=http://www.odysseymediagroup.com/apn/Editorial-Airlines-And-Airports.asp?reportid=73738| publisher=[[Northwest Airlines]]| date=January 7, 2004| access-date=October 21, 2006| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522123343/http://www.odysseymediagroup.com/apn/Editorial-Airlines-And-Airports.asp?reportid=73738| archive-date=May 22, 2014| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Northwest flight revives PDX connection to Asia | work=The Oregonian | date=June 11, 2004 | author=Rivera, Dylan}}</ref>

In August 2005, the [[concourse]] connector was opened.<ref>{{cite web |title=Portland International Airport—Connecting People, Places and Now Concourses with New Concourse Connector |url=http://www.portofportland.com/pdxaminer/pdxaminer_curr.aspx?contentFile=/Issue_2005_08/Content/Page1.ascx |work=pdxaminer |date=August 2005 |access-date=February 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924080202/http://www.portofportland.com/pdxaminer/pdxaminer_curr.aspx?contentFile=%2FIssue_2005_08%2FContent%2FPage1.ascx |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This is a long hallway on the secure side of the airport that connects the A, B and C concourses to the D and E concourses on the other side of the airport. If there is a long line at the checkpoint at one end of the airport, passengers may use the other checkpoint and walk through the connector to their desired concourse.<ref>{{cite news |title=Holiday Travel Tips to Survive PDX |first=Jack |last=Penning |url=http://www.beloblog.com/KGW_Blogs/travel/archives/2005/12/ |work=[[KGW]] News |date=December 20, 2005 |access-date=February 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804192355/http://www.beloblog.com/KGW_Blogs/travel/archives/2005/12/ |archive-date=August 4, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The connector closed permanently on January 5, 2021, to make room for terminal expansion.<ref>{{cite web |title=PDX To Close Concourse Connector |url=https://z100portland.iheart.com/featured/portland-local-news/content/2021-01-04-pdx-to-close-concourse-connector/ |website=Z100 Portland |access-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121043310/https://z100portland.iheart.com/featured/portland-local-news/content/2021-01-04-pdx-to-close-concourse-connector/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Portland International Airport carpet|airport's carpet]], installed in 1987, was designed to stylize the criss-crossing north and south runways. Beginning in 2014, a new design replaced the original pattern. In response, many residents created products to celebrate the carpet as a local icon.<ref>{{cite news| last1=Barney| first1=Alicia| title=In Portland, It's Curtains for an Airport Carpet| url=http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/12/16/in-portland-its-curtains-for-an-airport-carpet/?_r=0| access-date=December 31, 2014| work=The New York Times| date=December 16, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231071059/http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/12/16/in-portland-its-curtains-for-an-airport-carpet/?_r=0| archive-date=December 31, 2014| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last1=Johnson| first1=Cari| title=A Brief History of the PDX Airport Carpet| url=http://www.portlandmonthlymag.com/travel-and-outdoors/tripster/articles/a-brief-history-of-the-pdx-carpet-december-2013| access-date=December 31, 2014| work=Portland Monthly| date=December 20, 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231070623/http://www.portlandmonthlymag.com/travel-and-outdoors/tripster/articles/a-brief-history-of-the-pdx-carpet-december-2013| archive-date=December 31, 2014| url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2016, the Port of Portland renovated the security checkpoints and immigration facilities as part of its PDXNext project. This included the relocation and widening of the exit lanes by the security checkpoints and upgraded security on both sides of the terminal.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www2.portofportland.com/PDXnext|website=Portland International Airport|title=PDXNext|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204102022/https://www2.portofportland.com/PDXnext|archive-date=December 4, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Terminal expansion (2020s)===
[[File:Portland International Airport main terminal - trees and roof (2024).jpg|thumb|right|Interior of the main terminal after it reopened in August 2024]]

In the latter half of 2016, the Port of Portland and several airlines at PDX approved a project intended to balance the use of the terminal and concourses at Portland International Airport. The subsequent project extended Concourse E by {{convert|750|ft}} and added 6 new gates to the facility. After the project, [[Southwest Airlines]] relocated its operations from Concourse C to the newly expanded Concourse E, alongside [[United Airlines]]. With the relocation of Southwest Airlines to Concourse E, Alaska Airlines, [[American Airlines]] and [[JetBlue Airways]] became the primary users of Concourses B and C. Construction on this project began in the spring of 2017 and opened to passengers on July 15, 2020.<ref>{{cite news| title=Airlines Approve Terminal Balancing Project and Concourse E Extension| url=http://cdn.portofportland.com/pdfs/PDXaminer_9_2016.pdf| page=3| work=Pdxaminer| publisher=Port of Portland| date=September 2016| access-date=September 4, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916132751/http://cdn.portofportland.com/pdfs/PDXaminer_9_2016.pdf| archive-date=September 16, 2016| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Port of Portland - PDX Next">{{cite web |url=https://www.portofportland.com/PDXnext |website=PDXNext |access-date=July 30, 2019 |title=Port of Portland - PDX Next |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731022224/https://www.portofportland.com/PDXnext |archive-date=July 31, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Portland airport hit with airline layoffs, hopes for revival of air travel |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2020/07/portland-airport-hit-with-airline-layoffs-hopes-for-revival-of-air-travel.html |website=Oregonlive |date=July 10, 2020 |access-date=July 13, 2020 |archive-date=July 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715222847/https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2020/07/portland-airport-hit-with-airline-layoffs-hopes-for-revival-of-air-travel.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Concourse A was demolished in November 2019 due to the age and space of the structure and was replaced by an expanded Concourse B. The extension featured 4 jet bridges, 6 ground loading zones, and improved concession stands. All Horizon operations that operated out of Concourse A was temporarily moved to Concourse C until the expanded Concourse B was completed. The new concourse opened on December 8, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Portland in mourning over loss of 'classic' PDX airport carpet |url=https://komonews.com/news/local/portland-in-mourning-over-loss-of-classic-pdx-airport-carpet |website=Komo News |date=November 14, 2019 |access-date=November 14, 2019 |archive-date=November 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114224452/https://komonews.com/news/local/portland-in-mourning-over-loss-of-classic-pdx-airport-carpet |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Port of Portland - PDX Next"/><ref>{{cite web|title=TCORE - Concourse B Renovation Public Notice|date=January 23, 2019|url=https://popcdn.azureedge.net/pdfs/PDX%20CAC%20TCORE%20-%20CCB%20Notice%20of%20Proposed%20Development%20January%202019.pdf|access-date=October 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709114128/https://popcdn.azureedge.net/pdfs/PDX%20CAC%20TCORE%20-%20CCB%20Notice%20of%20Proposed%20Development%20January%202019.pdf|archive-date=July 9, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Concourse B debuts at Portland International Airport |url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/pdx-airport-concourse-b/283-de1991b1-5e52-496f-b93e-b88367f99fa5 |website=KGW8 |date=December 8, 2021 |access-date=December 8, 2021 |archive-date=December 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208005105/https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/pdx-airport-concourse-b/283-de1991b1-5e52-496f-b93e-b88367f99fa5 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2020, the main terminal began a five-year expansion process to generate more open space in the pre-security area and an expansion of 150 feet toward the west. The concourse connector was closed in January 2021 and the Clocktower Plaza closed three months later to make room for the expansion. During construction, the remains of the concourse connector was reused for passengers to bypass the construction zone to get to concourses C and D. Construction of phase one of the new main terminal was expected to be complete by May 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=PDX construction 101: What's happening at your local airport, explained |url=https://www.pdxnext.com/Stories/Details/pdx-construction-guide |website=PDXNext |access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Photos of PDX's New Terminal Are Here, and It's Glorious |url=https://www.pdxmonthly.com/travel-and-outdoors/2023/08/pdx-airport-photos-renovated-main-terminal |website=PDX Monthly |access-date=August 23, 2023 |archive-date=August 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824005221/https://www.pdxmonthly.com/travel-and-outdoors/2023/08/pdx-airport-photos-renovated-main-terminal |url-status=live }}</ref> One month before its scheduled opening, however, the opening date for the new terminal was delayed by three months due to construction incidents on site.<ref>{{cite web |title=Portland International Airport sets main terminal opening date for August 2024 after delays |url=https://www.kgw.com/article/money/business/portland-international-airport-main-terminal-opening-date-august-2024/283-3fffec15-d236-499a-9647-2f70d0716da4 |website=KGW |date=April 4, 2024 |access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref> Phase one of the new terminal opened to the public on August 14, 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=New PDX main terminal opens, 'greets visitors the Oregon way' |url=https://www.koin.com/news/portland/pdx-airport-new-main-terminal-open/ |website=KOIN 6 |access-date=August 14, 2024 |archive-date=August 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814133037/https://www.koin.com/news/portland/pdx-airport-new-main-terminal-open/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As of September 2024, total construction is expected to wrap up in early 2026.

Alaska Airlines began shifting connecting flights from Seattle to Portland in May 2025 as part of a strategy to use the latter as a reliever for overcrowding at Seattle–Tacoma.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rosenblatt |first=Lauren |date=April 29, 2025 |title=Why Alaska Air wants Portland to be its Sea-Tac 'relief valve' |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/why-alaska-air-wants-portland-to-be-its-sea-tac-relief-valve/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=April 29, 2025}}</ref>