Portland International Jetport | PWM

Some thoughts,
A. is the plan still to expand the baggage claim area which would eliminate the shipyard bar near baggage? If Dunkin went in, who would utilize it? Grab a Dunkin to go? before picking up luggage?
B. is the 10-year concession plan to renovate the office area in the back of Burger King, which they are moving to the old restaurant, to a food court?
C. Is anything going to go in near the exit portal/ gates 3-4 where the children's area was?
D. on the average, how much time do people really have to sit down for a meal at PWM? When I go thru PHL, CLT, BWI, LGA I usually have about 1.5 hours to kill, so I pick something quick aka Subway, Jersey Mikes, or a salad, maybe a quick beer depending on the time of the day
E. when the FIS station goes in the future, will there be a duty free shop?
 
I always felt the downstairs Shipyard target market was people picking people up who got there early and didn't want to sit in the cellphone lot.

As far as sitting down for a meal, maybe if you got to PWM the suggested 2 hours early and got through TSA in nothing flat. Beyond that, unless someone wanted to make PWM a layover hub for some reason, I don't see it. The one time I patronized the airside Shipyard it was a midmorning preflight beer.
 
To the best of my knowledge:

A. Yes. A fourth baggage carousel is planned and will take up a portion of the present Shipyard space. One issue that is being worked out is how to extend the tug corridor behind the baggage claim wall that is critical for unloading the luggage. First priority will be to install modern inline carousels to the current three. Whatever establishment goes into the lower level will have less space to operate and the Dunkin plans do call for "to go" set up.

B. One of the plans I saw does open up the Burger King and Linda Bean space into a more of a food court vibe and I'm not sure about the area behind it. It is all dependent on which concessioner wins the 10 year contract.

C. Nothing currently planned

D. Exactly why there needs to be a balance and each proposal has a "fast food" type of option. Delayed flights and individuals who actually arrive at the airport an hour and a half to two hours early are the customers who normally have the time for a sit down experience.

E. There has been no discussions about a duty free shop as far as as I'm know. Getting the FIS facility finally built will be huge accomplishment and it would be difficult in my opinion to add a separate retail space due to the proposed lay out of the concourse area while maintaining screening and security requirements. There are plans to add new restrooms in the current TSA office space once they relocate. For a reference, behind the wall and across from the Gate 5 area where the tacky portable bathrooms are currently located.

Final note: One of the future concerns that needs to be addressed besides parking, FIS, concessions, TSA and PWM admin moves, is the refurbishment of the baggage distribution system behind ticketing. It is now over 15 years old, was state of the art when installed but needs new technology and mechanical improvements to bring it up to speed and the price tag is substantial.
 
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If they could incorporate the ZOO(aka Moose) , the waiting area, and Dunkin, this could be a great 1st impression to PWM(Maine) coming down the escalator
 
I'd put the moose display in the former children's play area as you depart the upper concourse and maybe that is what you were referring to.
 
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This is where I was talking about. The moose are to the left of the photo.
 
Didn't there used to be a restaurant or something here many years ago? I thought I remember going there before a business trip, but my memory may be failing me 😂
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There was a restaurant there for many years with great views of the apron and runways. Has been used for maintenance and storage since the restaurant closed back in the 90's (I think) and will become the new location for the airport's administrative offices which will then allow the TSA to move into PWM's vacated offices. Which will in turn open up space in the former TSA operations area for new restrooms and eventually a first class/business lounge across from Gates 5 and 6. A lot of moving parts that will require time and continued funding.
 
Portlander said:
There was a restaurant there for many years with great views of the apron and runways. Has been used for maintenance and storage since the restaurant closed back in the 90's (I think) and will become the new location for the airport's administrative offices which will then allow the TSA to move into PWM's vacated offices. Which will in turn open up space in the former TSA operations area for new restrooms and eventually a first class/business lounge across from Gates 5 and 6. A lot of moving parts that will require time and continued funding.
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(y) That lines up with when I would have been there, so I'm not going crazy... At least regarding that anyway 😏
 
The name of that restaurant escapes me, maybe Mark will remember?
 
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I have no idea, although I remember visiting the Jetport once to eat there and not being impressed with the food. It may have closed in the 90's, or after 9/11 when they decided they didn't want a reason for randos to be wandering around on the second floor.
 
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Portland and Providence markets surging in New England along with many other mid sized markets around the country. PWM keeps impressing! Hopeful that improvements continue to be made despite neighbors, politics, and lack of recognition/funding from the state and federal levels.
 
New England and California are hot.....really no reason to travel anywhere else. 😛
 
mainejeff said:
New England and California are hot.....really no reason to travel anywhere else. 😛
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I kind of agree with this. I went back to LA to see what's up this past June and I still got the feel-good vibes, though it's not exactly the same. Santa Barbara and Ojai, you can always go there--immunity from the craziness.
 
Feeling bad for North Dakota and Wyoming for not even having any airports that made the cut...

Also, when did Kansas City change from MCI?
 
markhb said:
Also, when did Kansas City change from MCI?
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It didn't. This graphic has a few inaccuracies like Ft Meyers (RSW), Hartford (BDL) and Orlando (MCO). As far as Wyoming (Jackson Hole #137) and North Dakota (Fargo #135), their busiest airports are more in line with Bangor (#158) and probably should be considered seeing that the article was attempting to highlight the Thanksgiving gains at smaller airports. I'm also skeptical of Portland's improvement of around 15% over last year and after reviewing the amount of actual flights between November 25th through December 2nd I only see a modest bump which is still a positive.
 
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Jackson Hole is a mainly tourist destination though. I looked up Cheyenne, and it's ranked in the 300's, as are Sheridan and Gillette, which are both slightly busier and on the I-90 corridor.
 
Don't forget about Casper at #230 which is on par with Portsmouth (PSM) when it comes to enplanements and being 290 miles from DEN is actually a benefit when compared to the other airports you mentioned.
 
I just on the Breeze website looking at flights out of PWM and noticed: Is this going to be a breeze thru RDU? or a direct flight to PNS
JAX is still on there, but flights have never been loaded.
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PWMFlyer said:
Hyatt is planning a hotel near the Jetport to open in 2025. Will this be leased on Jetport land? are they going to use this building as a sound barrier between the parking lot and KAREN from Stroudwater? They also own the Hilton Garden Inn as well.
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I wonder if this was effectively stopped by the housing replacement fees discussed in the PPH today. Looking up the project (1060 Westbrook St.) on the city website, the most recent permit is shown as Withdrawn with over $700,000 in unpaid fees.
 
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