Wednesday, August 14, 2024 Alaska Airlines proudly joins forces with Portland International Airport for today’s grand unveiling of its stunningly redesigned terminal. This state-of-the-art facility, years in the making, marks a significant milestone. Alongside this grand opening, Portland becomes the inaugural site for our cutting-edge technology and advanced procedures, aimed at revolutionizing the airport experience.
Our new system ensures a smoother journey, allowing guests to pass through the lobby and security in under five minutes. “As our second largest hub, Portland is an essential part of Alaska’s future. Our deep collaboration and joint investment with the Port of Portland on this new world-class terminal highlights our focus on improving how our guests travel,” said Shane Jones , senior vice president of fleet, revenue products and real estate at Alaska Airlines.
“With nearly 90% of our passengers now checking in before they arrive at the airport, we’ve launched our lobby of the future experience in Portland which simplifies dropping off bags and gets guests quickly through the lobby so they can enjoy everything the new terminal has to offer,” said Charu Jain , senior vice president of innovation and merchandising at Alaska Airlines. We are showcasing the latest technological innovations designed to grant our guests greater control over their travel experience. This begins with our streamlined bag drop process.
With our custom Apple iPad-powered tag stations, travelers can quickly print bag tags by simply scanning their mobile boarding pass. In collaboration with Embross, a pioneer in self-service technology, we offer Automated Bag Drop stations that effortlessly handle checked baggage. These stations securely verify travelers’ identities against their government-issued IDs, eliminating the need to wait in line for assistance.
“The PDX bag drop experience leverages some of the latest innovations in computer vision to deliver the convenience and efficiency of automated bag processing while also ensuring user safety and security compliance to TSA ID-check requirements,” said Myles Tzelepis , chief technology officer at Embross. Ensuring our guests’ comfort is our top priority. Our committed customer service agents, renowned for their exceptional support, will remain available in the lobby to address any issues and assist with bag check-ins for those who need help.
“The new PDX was designed to double down on everything travelers love about our airport,” said Dan Pippenger , chief aviation officer at the Port of Portland. “Our partners at Alaska Airlines understood that vision from the beginning and helped us build a new main terminal that both improves the travel experience and celebrates our region.” For over 20 years, we’ve proudly been the leading carrier in Portland, and our growth continues.
Alaska and Horizon Air have expanded their flights by 17% from 2023 to 2024, offering 110 peak daily flights to 55 nonstop destinations from PDX. Of these destinations, 29 are served exclusively by Alaska, connecting smaller cities and communities. Recently, we launched new nonstop routes to Miami and Nashville, with plans to introduce flights to Atlanta and New Orleans in the near future.
Exciting developments are on the way for our guests at PDX. Our upcoming Lounge, set to debut in 2026, will offer over 12,000 square feet of space with a modern Pacific Northwest aesthetic. The new Lounge will feature a barista station, a cozy fireplace area, and stunning views of the new terminal.
.
