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The mayors of Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash., established the International Air Service Committee, which consists of business and community leaders in the region. The committee is tasked with establishing and maintaining nonstop international air service between Portland International Airport and Europe and Asia. The co-chairs are Sho Dozono, president, Azumano Travel; Ted Cullen, Director of Global M&E, WHQ M&E and Travel, Nike, Inc.; and Bill Wyatt, executive director, Port of Portland.
The committee was responsible for overseeing the recruitment of the Lufthansa Airlines nonstop service to Frankfurt in 2003; the Northwest Airlines/Delta nonstop service to Tokyo in 2004; and the Northwest Airlines/Delta nonstop service to Amsterdam in 2008.
The recruitment represented a regional effort by the public and private sector that demonstrated to the carriers that international service to PDX would provide a strong market opportunity. Specific examples of those efforts included: A risk mitigation strategy by the Port of Portland; pledges of corporate support by the business community to use the nonstop international service; and co-op marketing support provided by the Oregon Tourism Commission, Travel Portland and the Port of Portland. The committee is focused on the retention of these services and continues to work closely with regional partners, as well as the carriers themselves, to sustain these international flights over the long term.
Committee Roster
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