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Reyna De La Cruz to the Rescue with Outstanding Customer Service
Reyna De La Cruz (she/her) with Relay Resources was nominated by Paula, a PDX traveler:
"I was traveling out of PDX after attending memorial services for a relative and was distraught and distracted. When I realized I left my computer in the restroom, I returned to look for it and met Reyna. She helped looked for it in the nearest bathroom but did not find it. I was running late so I went to get in line for my flight. However, my flight was delayed so I continued my search. While I was looking, Reyna turned up with my laptop in hand! What a relief! Thank you, Reyna!"
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What's New with PDX Next: Concourse E, Smoking Area Move, D/E Bypass and Ticket Lobby Access Changes
Concourse E: As a reminder, we’re bringing the next 40% of PDX to life – complete with more local shops, restaurants, art and room to relax in early 2026. But to get there, we need some construction magic to happen. For evening travelers arriving at Concourse E gates, that means a temporary detour now through Friday, Jan. 24, weeknights from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. Read more about these changes. [Note: There may be work on Saturdays if there are delays due to weather on weeknights, including work scheduled for this Saturday, Jan. 18.]
Smoking Area: Because of the Concourse E detour, the smoking area on the north upper roadway moved from the inner to outer roadway.
North D/E Bypass: Door T2TU45 (middle of the north D/E pedestrian bypass) is now for emergency egress only, as the area on the ramp outside the doors is now part of the construction zone.
Ticket Lobby Access: Now through the end of the month, crews are removing carpet and installing terrazzo in the ticket lobby. Expect some elevated noise levels and odors – mitigation techniques will be in place to minimize these impacts. Related access closures include:
Through Friday, Jan. 31: The north most revolving door and enplaning access to stair T2TN10/T2082 are closed.
Sunday, Jan. 26. through Friday, Jan. 31: All four escalators from baggage claim to the ticket lobby and escalators from the skybridge to the ticket lobby will close, though elevators will still be available.
Looking for more PDX Next information? We're keeping you in the know on what's new on the PDX People website. Have questions or suggestions about construction? Email hello@pdxnext.com or call the construction hotline at 503.460.4339.
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Portland Airport Fire and Rescue Responds to California Fires
Last Wednesday morning, Portland Airport Fire and Rescue’s Engine 80 and crew members Levi Favara, Garrett Bancroft, Jerrett Kays and Jason Zollner (left to right) departed PDX to help with the response to the Palisades Fire, currently the largest wildfire in Southern California.
The team mobilized as part of the Multnomah County Task Force, one of 12 strike teams with 240 firefighters and 60 engines sent by the Oregon State Fire Marshal. All the responders work with one goal in mind: protecting people, property and critical infrastructure.
As you might guess, we have a strong working relationship with our partners in California and stand ready to help each other when needed – California most recently sent resources to Oregon in 2024. We’re proud to be able to send help, as we know fire doesn’t recognize lines on a map and neither should the response.
As of this morning, the Palisades Fire is only 14% contained and has burned over 23,700 acres. At least 24 people have died in the Los Angeles County fires, thousands of buildings have burned, and thousands of people have fled as officials issued evacuation orders for many residential areas. If you’d like to assist those affected by these fires, there are many ways to donate money, materials or time – see and share the Los Angeles Times list.
To all the crews working the fires, including our PDX colleagues: Stay safe and thank you for your service.
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Be Knowledgeable:
PDX Community Room
Did you know there's a comfy, chill space at PDX where you can take your breaks? The PDX Community Room is a break room for anyone who works at the airport.
You can find the room on lower Concourse D, under Gate D4. The room features DIRECTV, comfortable seating, Wi-Fi access, a microwave, puzzles, books and board games. Plus, we periodically host events for PDX People in this space! Vending machines and computer workstations are planned for the future but aren't in place yet.
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Half Sister Studio’s Martha Almy on PDX’s Video Walls
Travel days can feel like a blur, but the new video walls at PDX are designed to change that. Martha Almy, founder and principal of Portland’s Half Sister Studios and the executive producer behind this stunning project, shares the inspiration and vision behind "Extraordinary Windows." These 120-foot-long video walls stretch above the security checkpoints, offering ever-changing scenes that celebrate the beauty and diversity of the Pacific Northwest. From misty waterfalls to starry night skies, these visuals are more than art – they’re a chance to pause, breathe and connect to the stories of our region.
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Save Lives, Give Blood, Win Super Bowl Tickets!
Interested in the chance to win a $50 gift card, $25 to Evergreens, a Tender Loving Empire gift basket or a trip for two to the Super Bowl? Want to take home a $10 gift card to Loyal Legion?
All you need to do is sign up for the United Airlines' blood drive on Tuesday, Jan. 14, happening pre-security on the mezzanine level at PDX. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood or platelets, and your blood donation helps to ensure there's enough supply for all patients who need it. It costs nothing but your time, and your donation is a gift that can help up to three people. Schedule your appointment now or call the American Red Cross at 1.800.RED.CROSS.
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Get Engaged with MLK Weekend Opportunities
We honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on his federal holiday by uniting in celebration and service. Head over to Hands On Greater Portland to see a variety of volunteer activities including habitat enhancement at Powell Butte with the Johnson Creek Watershed Council; a community litter cleanup at Irving Park with SOLVE Oregon; and assembling care kits for the houseless with Blanchet House. Or, if you're interested in gaining new knowledge, make plans to attend the in-person World Arts Foundation's annual MLK tribute or the United Way of King County's virtual lunch and learn on moving beyond service to solidarity.
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Oregonian: What’s With All the Balloons On the Ceiling at PDX?
The new main terminal is expansive, filled with light and living trees, and capped by a 392,000-square-foot wood-beamed ceiling with 49 skylights. But that new ceiling has presented an interesting problem: Ceiling litter in the form of errant Mylar balloons. While we don’t have an official no balloon policy – we love the meet and greet culture at PDX! – The Oregonian shares how visitors can help minimize the cleanup by opting for helium-free welcome gifts or attaching a weight to the bottom of balloons. Because believe it or not, the process of removing balloons begins with a fishing pole, another balloon and double stick tape. When that approach fails, a maintenance lift must be brought in to get extra hard-to-reach balloons.
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PDX in Pictures
There's no better feeling than closing out the year with a commitment to helping our community.
Thanks to financial support from our partners at Kindness 911, that's what the Port of Portland Police and Portland Airport Fire and Rescue teams did – dropping off a donation of $1,000 for our friends at Camp Rosenbaum, an organization dedicated to providing children from underserved communities with opportunities to build confidence, develop teamwork skills and envision a brighter future.
Since 1970, more than 150 children from around Oregon and Southwest Washington have spent a week at Camp Rosenbaum on the Oregon coast, enjoying activities that most of them have never been able to do – crafting leather keychains and bracelets, riding horses, making pinewood derby cars, fishing and more.
Volunteers from law enforcement, fire departments, the military, and housing authorities serve as "undercover role models," bonding with the campers and providing a safe and stable environment for them to have fun without worries. Then, on the final day of camp, the volunteers reveal their secret identities: They are members of the military, firefighters and EMTs, 911 dispatchers, housing authority staff and police officers.
Thank you to Kindness 911’s generous donors for making this gift possible, and to our Police and Fire teams for selecting a charity that inspires us all in Camp Rosenbaum.
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