A look inside Portland International Airport’s new, tree-lined main terminal

Portland International Airport (PDX) in Portland, Oregon, is undergoing a much-needed $2.15 billion renovation.

Although construction has been underway since at least 2020, visitors will likely feel the wait was worth it when the airport’s temporary walls come down on August 14 and the next (and best) part of the project is unveiled.

Soon, visitors will experience an expansive and redesigned main terminal with a high wooden roof, state-of-the-art check-in and checkpoint technology, real trees and plants, and plenty of art, shops, restaurants and inviting places to linger.

Wondering what to expect? Here’s a first look at what passengers and the public will see at PDX.

This is an airport?

As you enter the new main terminal, just past the check-in area, you’ll notice a massive forest-like concourse with over 70 real trees, more than 5,000 plants, nearly 50 skylights, and a 9-acre roof made entirely of Douglas fir sourced from sustainably managed farms in Oregon and Washington.

The check-in experience

The airline check-in counters are arranged in four carpeted islands perpendicular to the entrance. Passengers flying with Alaska Airlines who need to check baggage will find the latest version of the airline’s automated bag drop system here. The self-service system prompts passengers to scan their boarding passes, print and attach baggage tags, weigh their bags, pay a checked bag fee (if required), and send the baggage on its way.

Shops, restaurants and public spaces

On the ground floor, you’ll find about a dozen shops and restaurants (some currently in pop-up format). Current options include Hello From Portland, Steven Smith Teamaker, Orox Leather Co., Paper Epiphanies, The Country Cat, and Powell’s Books.

This main terminal area has two rows of stadium seats with solid wood benches, perfect for relaxing before a flight. This space also has a stage area for live performances. During our visit, we spotted a grand piano that was being set up.

The return of the PDX carpet

At the top of each row of seats in the stadium are lounge seating areas, and beneath your feet you’ll see carpeting that echoes the popular teal and purple pattern that has inspired thousands, perhaps millions, of shoe selfies.

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The pattern and colors of the original carpet, installed throughout the airport in 1988 and replaced in 2015, have been carefully recreated for installation in these lounges and several other locations in the new main terminal area.

Mezzanine restaurant with a view

Loyal Legion, a popular local beer joint, will occupy the mezzanine level of the main terminal area before security. In addition to more than 90 Oregon beers on tap, this venue offers great views of the surrounding landscape, including the airfield, as well as a vantage point to watch the hustle and bustle of the main concourse.

New and improved security controls

The new main concourse at PDX features two identical Transportation Security Administration checkpoints equipped with the latest security screening technology. Above each checkpoint is a 120-foot-long video wall that shows short films about some of the airport’s artwork, as well as images inspired by Oregon landscapes. The content on the screens is designed to provide “positive distraction” and changes depending on the time of day, the weather, and somehow the number of people currently in the terminal.

At the carpeted checkpoints, travelers will find TSA officers using Credential Authentication Technology to verify travel documents, meaning passengers only need to show a photo ID, not their boarding pass, when they go through.

At six automated screening lanes for regular travelers (excluding TSA PreCheck), three passengers can load their bags into bins at a time. This should speed up the process, as should the fact that liquids and electronic devices are not removed from bags.

As for passenger screening, each checkpoint is equipped with five of the latest Advanced Imaging Technology body scanners that use millimeter wave technology. These devices are wider than previous models and allow passengers to keep their hands at their sides instead of above their heads. According to the TSA, these devices can be used for people with metal hips, prosthetic knees, or metal pins in their bodies because they are not metal detectors.

An interesting round wooden “hut” at each checkpoint at PDX serves as a private screening room for travelers who may require additional screening and wish to have it done privately.

Conclusion

Portland International Airport passengers can look forward to a shiny new airport terminal – a much-anticipated development for this Alaska Airlines hub and one of the busiest airports in the Pacific Northwest.

From local accents to redesigned public areas, the terminal overhaul brings a mix of technological advancements and aesthetic improvements.

Even classic details like PDX’s iconic carpet are part of the redesigned space. Lovers of the original feature will notice a new version that connects the old terminal with the updated one.

As airports across the US unveil long-awaited new terminals and facelifts, PDX can join the ranks of airports that you can actually want to spend time.

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