About I Fly Nonstop
When your community is the smallest city in the country with nonstop service to both Europe (Amsterdam) and Asia (Tokyo) you can’t sit back and hope the airline operating those routes will sustain the service. The reality is that airlines today will cancel service that is not providing an adequate return on the investment and move the airplanes and flights to another market in hopes of better financial results.
The International Air Service Committee (IASC) was initially established as a team of community leaders from Oregon and Southwestern Washington to help recruit nonstop international air service to Portland International Airport (PDX). Today that team is focused on retaining the nonstop international service at PDX that provides access to global markets, and represents a huge economic impact to the region in terms of jobs and investment.
The “I Fly Nonstop” campaign represents one example of an innovative and aggressive strategy being implemented by the IASC to generate support for the nonstops to Tokyo and Amsterdam, as well as connections throughout Asia and Europe to most of the major business centers and tourism destinations. Currently, only Delta Air Lines provides this international non-stop service. With the economic downturn and reduction in service at all airports around the country, there is a sense of urgency that now is the time to make sure Delta succeeds in this market. The Blog is a great way to build awareness for PDX and the nonstop transoceanic flights as social media rapidly becomes an integral part of our communication network.
We hope you will find the Blog a great source of information as well as a place to share your experiences about Delta’s international nonstop flights from PDX and the destinations they serve around the world. Become part of the “I Fly Nonstop” team and help get the message out to the community that the best way to keep the nonstop Delta flights is to fly the nonstop Delta flights.
About the International Air Service Committee
Created by the mayors of Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash., the International Air Service Committee was established in an effort to build and maintain nonstop international air service between Portland International Airport and Europe and Asia. Co-chairs Sho Dozono, president, Azumano Travel; Ted Cullen, global travel director, Nike; and Bill Wyatt, executive director, Port of Portland lead this committee of regional business and community leaders.
The committee’s recruitment efforts have demonstrated to the various carriers that international service to PDX would provide a strong market opportunity. Specific examples of those efforts included: A risk mitigation strategy by the Port of Portland; pledges of corporate support by the business community to use the nonstop international service; and co-op marketing support provided by the Oregon Tourism Commission, Travel Portland and the Port of Portland. Looking ahead, the committee is focused on the retention of these services and continues to work closely with regional partners, as well as the carriers themselves, to sustain these international flights over the long term.
History
Since Portland International Airport offered passengers its first nonstop international air service in 1981 on Western Airlines to Vancouver BC, PDX has seen many changes.
Over the years, the mix of carriers and routes have varied, but nonstop international air service at PDX has remained important to both local travelers and visitors, helping them get to their international business meetings faster, and giving them more time to enjoy their vacations around the world.
In spring 1983, United Airlines launched nonstop service to Tokyo, and Western inaugurated nonstop service to Mexico.
In 1987, Delta Air Lines acquired Western and operated nonstop service to Vancouver, BC. At the peak of Delta’s international hub operation in Portland in the late 1980s and 1990s, Delta also served a host of nonstop destinations in Asia including Tokyo, Seoul, Nagoya, Taipei and Fukuoka. About the same time, Horizon Air and Air BC (now Air Canada) entered the Vancouver, BC market.
In spring 2003, PDX saw its first nonstop service to Europe with the launch of Lufthansa flights to Frankfurt. Shortly afterward, Mexicana Airlines inaugurated nonstop service to Guadalajara. In summer 2004, Northwest Airlines returned PDX to the Asia market, launching nonstop service to Tokyo, a service now operated by Delta. In summer 2007, Mexicana Airlines reached the peak of operations at PDX, adding a nonstop route to Mexico City. In spring 2008, Northwest Airlines added a nonstop route to Amsterdam, which is now operated by Delta. The most recent addition to the PDX nonstop international route menu came this summer to Calgary, AB on Air Canada.
While many changes have occurred over the years, today PDX offers nonstop international air service to Tokyo, Amsterdam, Vancouver and Calgary, helping serve the travel needs of locals and visitors alike.