With another storm looming Sunday, record crowds at the Portland International Jetport, and flight delays increasing across the nation, officials are warning travelers to prepare for busy highways, airports and parking lots.
"We are running at 80 to 90 percent capacity" in the airport parking lots, said Jeff Monroe, Portland's director of transportation.
Monroe said the airport garages will probably fill up this weekend and travelers will be directed to the remote lot.
Although shuttle service is fairly frequent from the remote lot, it can add 20 to 25 minutes to a trip, said Greg Hughes, airport marketing manager. The 2,762 spaces available at the airport and remote lots have never reached capacity, but airport officials are encouraging passengers to avoid parking at the airport if possible.
Record numbers of passengers are flying in and out of Portland's airport this year. In January, 102,331 passengers went through the airport, and in March there were 122,218 passengers. The only reason February failed to set a record was a big snowstorm that shut down Jet Blue and other air traffic for days, Hughes said.
Hughes said the airport will get even busier this summer, when the daily average of roughly 2,465 seats on flights in and out of the airport jumps by 600 to 700 seats. Jet Blue, Northwest Airlines and AirTran Airways will add flights in June.
Source: BETH QUIMBY, Portland Press Herald
XML Feeds
