Portland International Airport
(PDX) continues to be a crucial hub for international travel in the Pacific Northwest, providing essential connectivity to destinations across the globe.
As of 2024, several airlines operate significant international routes from PDX, facilitating global travel and commerce. According to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, the airlines are flying international routes from Portland this year, detailing their operations regarding flights, available seats, and available seat miles (ASMs).
Air Canada
Air Canada
dominates the international scene at Portland International Airport with 2,794 flights for 2024. This extensive schedule provides 230,116 seats, equating to 109,998,576 ASMs. The airline primarily connects Portland with Canadian destinations such as Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, serving as a gateway to further international travel. Air Canada’s frequent services and vast network make it a vital link between the Pacific Northwest and the rest of the world.
Photo: Ethan Gillmore | Shutterstock
The high number of seats and ASMs reflects Air Canada’s role in connecting Portland to Canada and providing convenient connections to Europe and Asia via its hubs. The airline’s extensive presence in Portland highlights its commitment to serving the market with reliable and frequent service, catering to business and leisure travelers.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines
operates 1,266 international flights from Portland in 2024, offering 169,166 seats and generating 256,653,018 ASMs. While traditionally known for its substantial presence in domestic markets, Alaska Airlines has expanded its international reach, connecting PDX to Mexico and Costa Rica destinations. These routes are popular among leisure travelers, particularly those looking for warm-weather escapes during winter.
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Alaska’s focus on providing high-quality service on these routes, combined with its membership in the oneworld alliance, enables it to offer more connectivity options to its passengers, including seamless travel experiences with partner airlines. This strategy enhances its value proposition for travelers seeking both direct flights and connections beyond the region.
Volaris
Volaris, a Mexican low-cost carrier, has 914 flights scheduled from Portland in 2024, making it a significant player in the international market at PDX. With 169,676 seats available and 347,157,096 ASMs, Volaris primarily connects Portland to various cities in Mexico, including Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Cancun. The airline’s affordable fares and extensive route network make it a popular choice for travelers visiting family or vacationing in Mexico.
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Volaris’ presence in Portland underlines the strong demand for travel between Oregon and Mexico, driven by the Mexican-American community and leisure travelers. The airline’s cost-effective services and network of direct flights to vital Mexican destinations make it an essential part of PDX’s international offerings.
WestJet
WestJet operates 596 flights from Portland in 2024, offering 54,636 seats and 29,995,164 ASMs. The airline primarily connects PDX with Canadian cities such as Calgary and Vancouver. These routes are crucial for business and leisure travelers exploring Western Canada or connecting to other destinations via WestJet’s growing network.
As a significant player in the Canadian market, WestJet provides an alternative to Air Canada, often competing on similar routes focusing on customer service and competitive pricing. The airline’s operations at PDX highlight the importance of the Canada-US market and WestJet’s role in connecting these two regions.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines remains a cornerstone of international connectivity from Portland, operating 588 flights in 2024. With 165,816 seats and 829,743,264 ASMs, Delta connects PDX to major global hub Amsterdam. These routes are crucial for business travelers and tourists, providing convenient European and Asian access.
Delta’s strategic use of its extensive network and alliances, such as SkyTeam, allows for a seamless travel experience worldwide. Its commitment to maintaining robust international operations in Portland demonstrates its role as a key player in facilitating global travel from the Pacific Northwest. However, the route will soon be taken over by KLM.
A summary of international destinations from Portland:
|
Airline |
Destination(s) Served |
|---|---|
|
Air Canada (AC) |
Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal |
|
Alaska Airlines (AS) |
Mexico City, Cancun, San Jose (Costa Rica) |
|
Volaris (Y4) |
Guadalajara, Mexico City, Cancun |
|
WestJet (WS) |
Calgary, Vancouver |
|
Delta Air Lines (DL) |
Amsterdam (ends 24th of October) |
|
British Airways (BA) |
London (Heathrow) |
|
Icelandair (FI) |
Reykjavík |
|
Condor (DE) |
Frankfurt (Seasonal) |
|
KLM (KL) |
Amsterdam (Starts 27th October) |
British Airways
British Airways offers 580 flights between Portland and London Heathrow in 2024, providing 133,152 seats and 654,308,928 ASMs. This direct route is a vital link between Oregon and Europe, serving business and leisure travelers. Operated with modern aircraft such as the Boeing 787, the service ensures a comfortable journey across the Atlantic.
Photo: Philip Pilosian | Shutterstock
The London route also provides extensive connectivity to destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa through British Airways’ hub at Heathrow, making it a popular choice for travelers looking to connect beyond the UK.
Icelandair
Icelandair operates 350 flights from Portland in 2024, with 64,084 seats and 239,545,992 ASMs. The airline connects PDX with Reykjavik, offering an alternative gateway to Europe. Icelandair’s unique stopover program allows passengers to explore Iceland for up to seven days before continuing their journey, adding value to its services.
The Reykjavik route is beautiful to leisure travelers and those seeking cost-effective options to reach Europe. Icelandair’s network from Reykjavík covers major European cities, providing a convenient link for travelers from Portland.
Condor
Condor offers 104 flights from Portland to Frankfurt in 2024, with 32,240 seats and 168,486,240 ASMs. This seasonal service primarily caters to leisure travelers heading to Europe during summer. Condor’s flights use Boeing 767 aircraft, providing a direct link to Germany and beyond.
Photo: Fabian Joy | Shutterstock
The airline’s focus on providing affordable, direct flights to Europe makes it a popular choice for vacationers. Despite its limited frequency, Condor is essential to PDX’s summer international offerings.
KLM
KLM, the Dutch flag carrier, will schedule 58 flights from Portland to Amsterdam in 2024, with 15,950 seats and 79,813,800 ASMs. While not as frequent as other airlines, KLM provides an important connection to the Netherlands and beyond. The route is particularly valued by business travelers and those seeking to connect to KLM’s extensive European network. KLM will soon take over Delta’s existing Amsterdam service.
Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock
In summary, Portland International Airport’s international airline offerings in 2024 are diverse and robust, with a mix of legacy carriers and budget airlines serving a variety of global destinations. According to Cirium, an aviation analytics company, these airlines provide essential connectivity for Oregon’s travelers, ensuring that PDX remains a crucial hub for international travel in the Pacific Northwest.