At Portland International Airport, the alphabet of concourses now begins with the letter B. Gone is Concourse A and, in its place, a brand-new Concourse B, with gates devoted to Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air regional routes.
The completely redeveloped area is bigger, brighter and bolder. The new concourse includes art installations by RYAN! Feddersen, floor-to-ceiling windows, plants and wood paneling, and unparalleled views of the airfield. Travelers arrive and depart at 10 gate locations for Alaska – four jet bridges and six ground-loading positions. Most flights at Concourse B are regional flights operated by Alaska’s sister carrier Horizon Air.
“For those of you who remember dark, cramped Concourse A, you’re in for a treat in this new space that serves important regional flights, said Curtis Robinhold, executive director of the Port of Portland. “Concourse B will provide a quintessential Pacific Northwest welcome and an experience with food and art that passengers and employees of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air deserve.”
Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air have 2,300 employees who work out of PDX. Combined, the Air Group operates nonstop flights from PDX to 44 destinations in the U.S. and Mexico.
“PDX is a crucial part of Alaska’s future, especially as one of our key West Coast hubs,” said Shane Jones, vice president of real estate and airport development at Alaska Airlines. “Our partnership and joint investment with the Port of Portland highlights our commitment to provide our guests with an excellent travel experience by making improvements that will make their journeys more enjoyable.”
RYAN! Feddersen, an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, created three interactive elements for "Inhabitance," the grand artwork that Concourse B visitors move through: the landscape portraits, which she calls "The Sentinel;" the "Cloud Walk," a rainbow-dappled sky with shimmering glass clouds; and, a wood-slat wall with "Habitat Tiles," patterns symbolizing different biomes.
The concourse was designed by ZGF Architects and constructed by Hoffman Skanska Joint Venture.
Good Coffee and Screen Door restaurants will open in Concourse B in spring 2022.
Fun Facts about Concourse B:
- All the white oak surrounding the art windows came from sustainably managed forests within 60 miles of Salem, Oregon.
- If you took all the wood slats from the ceiling and lined them end to end, they’d stretch from the airport all the way across the Columbia River to Washington.
- There’s more than 8,900-square-feet of south-facing windows. Bring. In. The. Light!
- The concourse offers more than 500 comfy seats for passengers.
- Charging space is aplenty with more than 300 places in the gate areas to plug and charge mobile devices.
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