In February 2010, the Portland City Council approved a 30-year bond for the construction of a new terminal building which will be repaid by using airport fees and funds. These funds will be taken from the federal Department of Transportation Security Administration Grant.
The completion of the project will add 137,000-square-foot, which is almost double the size of the terminal and include a new baggage-handling system, eight passenger screening lanes, three new gates and a pedestrian bridge over the roadway.
A new explosion-detection system will be constructed for the outgoing baggage to speed up baggage checks along with the construction of a new road system.
This expansion project which is scheduled to begin in April, 2010 is expected to bring at least one new airline carrier. It will take around 22 months to complete and is expected to be ready by January 2012.
The three new gates will permit one of the six airline carriers to increase more flights. Air Canada is expected to start its new service in May, 2010.
