Portland International Jetport is a public airport located two miles (3 km) west of the central business district of Portland, in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. It is owned by the city of Portland. A significant portion of the Jetport, including the main runway, is located in the neighboring city of South Portland.
This regional airport serves much of Maine and is the busiest airport in the state. In 2007, the airport handled a record 1.6 million passengers, up 17.0% from the previous year, and handled 1.7 million passengers in the years 2008-2011. In recent years, the Jetport has benefited from service by low-cost carriers such as AirTran Airways and JetBlue. A survey conducted in June 2011 found PWM to be the most affordable airport in the region, and the third most affordable in New England. In October 2011, PWM completed a $75 million renovation and expansion of its terminal to allow more airline service and more amenities for passengers.
PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL JETPORT AIRPORT HISTORY
The airfield was founded in the late 1920s by Dr. Clifford “Kip” Strange, who needed space for his JN-4 “Jenny” Biplane. Known as Stroudwater Field, the airport received its first commercial service on August 1, 1931, when Boston-Maine Airways began a flight from Portland to Boston. Two years later, the city of Portland bought the airfield and changed its name to Portland-Westbrook Municipal Airport. “Westbrook” referred to the location of the last directional light before the airport in the nearby city of Westbrook.
The current airport started to take shape in the 1950s to ’60s. Runway 11/29 was built in 1957 and lengthened to 6,800 feet (2,073 m) in 1966. The current terminal was opened in 1968, when jet service began.
PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL JETPORT AIRPORT LOCATION
PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL JETPORT AIRPORT FACTS
ICAO/IATA: KPWM/PWM
Lat: 43°38′46″N
Long: 070°18′33″W
Elevation: 76 ft.
Runway length available: 11/29 7200×150 ft. :: 18/36 5001×150 ft.
