PDX Gears Up for Busy Summer Travel Season

Monday, June 15, 2015

GoLocalPDX News Team

While summer weather seems to be in full swing, summer travel starts to heat up tomorrow at Portland International Airport.

PDX expects to serve nearly 4.9 million passengers from June through August, which would beat last summer’s all-time travel record by nearly 5 percent. During the busiest travel days, the airport will serve more than 58,000 passengers daily.

A host of new nonstop flight options available for PDX travelers are helping boost the summer travel statistics:

Anchorage — Daily flights from June 18 to Sept. 8 on JetBlue Airways.
Austin —Daily year-round flights on Alaska Airlines begin on Nov. 5.
Dallas/Love Field — Daily year-round flights on Southwest Airlines started April 8.
Frankfurt, Germany— Twice-weekly flights from June 19 to Oct. 6 on Condor Airlines.
Los Angeles — Twice-daily year-round flights on Southwest Airlines started June 7.
Orange County — Twice-daily year-round flights on Southwest Airlines begin on Aug. 9.
Reykjavik, Iceland — Twice-weekly flights from May 20 to Oct. 16 on Icelandair.
St. Louis — Daily year-round flights on Alaska Airlines begin on July 1.

PDX encourages travelers to arrive at least two hours before their flights. This is the combined time it takes to park, ride a shuttle bus to the terminal, check a bag, and go through security. It’s especially true for flights departing before 8 a.m., or between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Travelers on international flights, or with children, or with disabilities should add 30 minutes. Those traveling at other times should allow at least 90 minutes.

Travelers can find more PDX travel tips at www.pdx.com, and can stay in touch with new developments at PDX on Twitter @flypdx. Transportation Security Administration travel tips and a complete list of items prohibited on flights are at www.tsa.gov.

Travelers can enter to win a $500 travel gift card redeemable for air travel from PDX. Contest rules and entry forms are available online and at the airport. Travelers can also enjoy performances by dozens of talented musicians and vocalists. Many stores and restaurants are participating with food and merchandise promotions, and extending operating hours to accommodate summer flight schedules.