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PDX People Honored at Customer Service Awards
At PDX, it's no secret that the employees make our airport so special. Whether it’s 2:30 a.m. in a dark parking lot or a chaotic afternoon during an ice storm, PDX People consistently show up with friendly faces, helpful hands, and the kind of respectful, can-do attitude that makes travel feel a little more human. These folks aren’t just checking boxes – they’re finding peanut butter when you least expect it, guiding travelers (and their dogs!) with empathy, and solving ticket machine mysteries like seasoned pros.
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What's New with PDX Next: Crane Pick and Escalator Delivery
Crane Pick: Crews will use a crane to place materials on the roof of the south node on Monday, May 5, and Tuesday, May 6. During crane operations, the south pedestrian bypass will be closed from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. each night. An alternate exit route will be available during these closures and open to everyone. Access to Concourse B through this alternate route will be limited to Alaska/Horizon, Bags Inc., Relay Resources, and emergency responders only.
During this operation:
• Pedestrians on the south lower roadway sidewalk will be temporarily halted or rerouted as each of the four escalators is moved.
• One lane of the lower roadway will be briefly blocked at times.
• The secure area boundary will be monitored by HSJV personnel.
• The Concourse B pedestrian reroute from the crane pick will be directed safely around the work zone.
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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Be Respectful: Sorting Out the Waste Areas and Spring Cleanup Event
Being respectful is a PDX People core value, including your actions toward travelers, other airport workers, and even shared spaces. With that in mind, keeping the waste areas organized and sorting your trash properly is part of maintaining a clean and safe airport environment.
This week, we're sharing tips on sorting trash glass, trash, and food waste. Doing our part to sort waste properly helps us stay green – and saves money by avoiding fines.
- Hang on to large or broken items until cleanup days. We host airport-wide cleanups every spring and fall. Our spring cleanup is on Tuesday, May 13 – bring any dry, non-hazardous items, including electronics and appliances.
- Skip the plastic bags in glass recycling. When glass gets to the recycling center, it’s dumped out and sorted by hand. Plastic bags, boxes, and other stuff that doesn’t belong slows everything down and can even be dangerous for the workers.
- Food scraps only in the food waste compactor. That means no boxes, milk, cans, or anything else that’s not food. If there’s too much non-food stuff, the compost gets trashed instead.
- Keep the wash area tidy. After you rinse your cart, take a moment to pick up any leftover trash or debris – it keeps things nice for everyone and helps prevent clogged drains.
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Help Steer Transit at PDX and Get Entered to Win a $50 Gift Card
We want to hear about your daily commute, your interest in an employee transit pass program, and what could make getting to and from work easier for the PDX People community.
The survey takes just five minutes, is open through the end of May, and by completing it, you’ll be entered to win a $50 Visa gift card!
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Alaska Airlines Makes PDX a Key West Coast Hub
As Alaska Airlines embarks on its mission to become a trans-Pacific carrier, connecting the West Coast to Asia, its Seattle hub will be the center of connections – which creates opportunity for PDX as the "relief valve." That means Alaska is shuffling some connecting flights that would have routed through Seattle to stop in Portland instead. Already, connecting bookings at PDX are up 200% in May and June, the first two full months of the new structure.
You may have already noticed an increase in passenger traffic, and it’s only going to grow. Over the next two months, we expect even more travelers moving through the airport, especially during the new peak times that come with these operational shifts: 7 a.m., 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m., and 9 p.m. More passengers also means more luggage at baggage claim and increased activity on the roadways.
Concourses B, C, and D will be especially busy, with many passengers connecting to other flights. These travelers may need extra help with directions, finding a bite to eat, or picking up a last-minute gift. Fortunately, PDX People are always ready to assist. If you see someone who looks unsure or has a question, a smile and a simple "Can I help you?" go a long way.
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Mop and Roll: PDX Trials an Autonomous Scrubber
Say hello to our temporary teammate on wheels – an autonomous scrubber currently gliding around PDX. We're running a two-month trial in April and May to see if this "cobot" (that’s short for collaborative robot) is the right fit for our floors. The goal? Let it handle the back-and-forth, repetitive cleaning and save time so our rockstar custodial crew can focus on the detailed work that really makes the terminal sparkle.
The scrubber follows trained routes and politely uses blinkers before turning. If it gets stuck, needs water replenished, or has a low battery, it sends an alert to its human partner for help. Passengers are already fascinated by it, and we’re loving how it helps us clean smarter, not harder.
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Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May marks a month-long celebration to honor the heritage and contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to the United States.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month began in 1978 as a 10-day celebration to honor the arrival of the first Japanese immigrant to the United States (in May of 1843) and the work that Chinese builders did on the transcontinental railroad (completed in May 1869). The holiday became a month-long celebration in 1992.
Check out some community events to celebrate this month:
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PDX in Pictures
Last Tuesday night, the final piece of the nine-acre mass timber roof slid into place – a huge (and we mean HUGE) milestone in Phase 2 of the new PDX. Curious what that looked like? Watch part of the install unfold from above, below, and every glorious angle.
An accomplishment this big couldn’t be done so safely and successfully without the work of an incredible team. Congratulations to all – you nailed it. (And craned it.)
Next up: Building more of what you love underneath the roof – more comfort, better flow, local food, and fun. Get ready!
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