On Wednesday, April 15, PDX’s permanent exit lanes will open on both the north and south ends of our main terminal. As a PDX employee and airport expert, travelers might have questions for you. One of the biggest changes is that travelers will meet arriving passengers at either the north or south end of the arrivals level, instead of the central area between the stadium steps. So if you see a passenger waiting at the stadium steps, looking confused here's how to help:

1. First ask, Are you picking someone up?

2. If yes, then ask, What airline are they arriving on?

3. Help them look at the arrivals board and direct them to the correct area - each new area features a cozy spot with the original PDX carpet and chairs:

• Gates B and C arrivals: Past the American Airlines ticket counters and Topaz Farms. Look for the tall wooden sculpture and the black and purple tiled art piece along the wall. 
• Gates D and E arrivals: Past the United Airlines ticket counters and Sheridan Fruit Co. Look for the brown and orange tiled art piece along the wall.   
• International arrivals: Proceed to baggage claim

Note: Some of these location markers will only be visible once the exits open on Wednesday, April 15.

Other Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Why did this change?
A: The temporary exit lane helped during construction, but the final goal was to have an easy, intuitive flow from gate to baggage claim. Our new exit lanes mean a shorter, more direct walk from your gate into the new (and nearly complete) PDX., plus new areas to meet friends and family right outside the exit.

Q: Why is there construction?
The new main terminal is open and looking great, but we’re still putting on the finishing touches. That includes a few upgrades like new escalators to baggage claim, an updated front entrance, and improvements to baggage claim.

Q: Is there more construction after this?
You may still see some construction near baggage claim over the next year or so as we make the space lighter and brighter. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of signs and staff around to help guide you.

Q: Why did you move the exits?
The exit lane by the stadium steps was always meant to be temporary! These new exits were designed to safely and comfortably support the growing number of travelers passing through PDX.  And if the person you’re meeting doesn’t mind a slightly longer walk, you can still use the stadium steps to meet up.

Q: What is this wall of portraits? Note: You'll see this art installation on the south side once the exits open on Wednesday, April 15. The north side will also have one, but that will come later this month. 

Many people helped bring the new PDX to life. These walls are just a small snapshot of the 30,000 folks who had a hand in it. The murals are about 73 feet long and feature 156 unique portraits.  Each person took their own photo, chose which one got printed, and co-wrote their own caption.