Jetport

[Corey]

From today:

[Portlander]

Nice photo Corey, it's finally coming along. My only complaint with the new terminal was the choice of font size selected along with way too much emphasis on "JETPORT" on the terminal's facade.

I would have made "PWM" larger and in a different color and kept the "Portland International Jetport" lettering all the same size. The Jetport Manager shot my idea down about a year ago : )

Maybe you can take another photo in a couple of days when the signage is complete and we can see what everyone else thinks of the layout.

[Corey]

The Sun Journal has a nice overview of the Jetport expansion with several pictures in today's article:

http://www.sunjournal.com/bplus/story/1078615

"We are selling Portland, Maine, as a destination," Bradbury said. "Some of the architecture we looked at was Commercial Street, downtown Portland. When you go into what are now cafes but used to be former ship buildings for handling all the materials coming in for the merchant industry, (there are) big robust wood beams. So this (design) tried to speak to it. Whereas the old terminal was tinted glass, white precast (concrete), it could have been Miami. This really is speaking to Maine."

[Corey]

It was nice meeting you at the grand opening, Portlander! Here are some photos:

[Patrick]

Fantastic photos, Corey, thanks for sharing. Did you get a new camera? The quality looks even better than usual!

[Portlander]

Right back at you Corey, and thanks for the great photos!

[Matt68]

Corey You Are The Man ! The Airport Looks Fabulous - Way to go Portland ! I hope PWM Attracts Another Carrier Although If Southwest Begins Service To Have Two Low-Fare Carriers at PWM Would Be Quite A Coup For Air Travel in Maine.

[datadyne007]

Now, THAT is architecture. Great building! Those interior spatial experiences seem really rich. The exposed structure is just stunning. Amazing photos!

[Max]

Great photos Corey! Can't say I'm not a little bummed to see Burger King have such a large presence in the new terminal. Wouldn't an Amato's or an outpost of any of Portland's great sandwich shops worked just as well there?

Can't wait to fly into it in a couple weeks!

[Portlander]

Max, I think it has to be an equally fair selection process when it comes down to determining what businesses get to lease space in the Jetport terminal. Though I admit Portland has become obsessed with the "Keep it Local" campaign downtown, I think most travelers flying out of Portland will appreciate an occasional Whopper and fries at a relatively inexpensive price and in a timely manner. All of the other establishments in the new terminal are local with the exception of Starbucks: Linda Bean's Lobster, Cool as a Moose and Downeast Emporium. Shipyard's Brew Pub is still located in the older portion of the terminal. Not sure if Amato's even pursued space in the new building?

[mainejeff]

Flew out of the new terminal on Oct. 11th.........mixed impressions.

The building is super nice and architecturally awe inspiring.......but:

No seating anywhere except for restaurant area or until you get through security.......hopefully, this has been/will be rectified.

New men's room is smallish.....still.

The floor on the ground level in certain areas is hideous......looks like the contractor had "issues".....???

The food selections just plain stink........PWM probably has the worst selection of food that I have ever seen for an airport its size.

[Patrick]

Have you flown into burlington

[datadyne007]

I did notice in the photos that there isn't a chair in sight. That's horrible planning. Hopefully the seating is on backorder?

[Corey]

I was curious about the seating situation when I was at the open house. I had assumed that there would be more places to sit once the place was up and running but I guess that isn't the case. There is seating near the gates but it makes sense to have seating near the ticket counters and the area that you pass through before going through TSA screening. In my experience, sitting is one of the main activities I take part in whenever I am at an airport. Better to have too many seats than not enough.

[mainejeff]

Originally Posted by Corey

I was curious about the seating situation when I was at the open house. I had assumed that there would be more places to sit once the place was up and running but I guess that isn't the case. There is seating near the gates but it makes sense to have seating near the ticket counters and the area that you pass through before going through TSA screening. In my experience, sitting is one of the main activities I take part in whenever I am at an airport. Better to have too many seats than not enough.

My 63 year old mother had to sit on the window sill as she watched me go through security on the upper level. The lack of ANY seating was absolutely ridiculous. I get that they are trying to shuffle people through the airport and most likely don't want people "hanging out" other than actual passengers after you go through security.......but still.

[mainejeff]

Originally Posted by Patrick

Have you flown into burlington

I have no reason to visit Burlington never mind fly out of it.......plus, how can you compare Burlington to Portland?

[Patrick]

Originally Posted by mainejeff

I have no reason to visit Burlington never mind fly out of it.......plus, how can you compare Burlington to Portland?

While you don't need to convince me that Portland has much more to offer than Burlington in many respects (although less in others), the two cities are compared very frequently, almost as much as Portland and Portsmouth. I would say they are more similar than Portland and Manchester in most ways.

My thought was that Burlington's airport, which is similar in size to Portland, would be in worse shape than Portland's is, and that's why I asked if you had flown out of it. I have not.

[Corey]

Originally Posted by mainejeff

My 63 year old mother had to sit on the window sill as she watched me go through security on the upper level. The lack of ANY seating was absolutely ridiculous. I get that they are trying to shuffle people through the airport and most likely don't want people "hanging out" other than actual passengers after you go through security.......but still.

I also sat on the heating infrastructure up against the windows for a while when I was at the open house due to lack of seating. It wasn't too comfortable and it certainly wasn't designed to be sat upon. I sent the Jetport an email to get their take on the situation. I wonder if it's more of a security issue or a financial issue? There is certainly enough space for seating.

[datadyne007]

Originally Posted by Corey

I also sat on the heating infrastructure up against the windows for a while when I was at the open house due to lack of seating. It wasn't too comfortable and it certainly wasn't designed to be sat upon. I sent the Jetport an email to get their take on the situation. I wonder if it's more of a security issue or a financial issue? There is certainly enough space for seating.

There is no excuse for the lack of seating in the check-in area. TF Green has plenty of seating on the UL near the counters and the LL baggage claim.

[Corey]

Originally Posted by Corey

I also sat on the heating infrastructure up against the windows for a while when I was at the open house due to lack of seating. It wasn't too comfortable and it certainly wasn't designed to be sat upon. I sent the Jetport an email to get their take on the situation. I wonder if it's more of a security issue or a financial issue? There is certainly enough space for seating.

Reply from Jetport:

Corey:

Part of the reasoning for lack of seating prior to the TSA line on the third level and at the new ticket counter area is to keep it open and spacious. Very few people sit prior to departure (outside of the gate areas) and we wanted to convey the openness of the new terminal.
As far as gate seating, the cost of the new seating was extremely high, we wanted to offer our passengers the latest in technology with computer power incorporated in the seats.
I think we will have to add additional seating in the future but currently the budgets are very tight.
Thank you for your e-mail, we appreciate your input and I will discuss the situation with our Director of Facilities.

Greg


Gregory Hughes
Airport Marketing Manager