The Portland Internatioal Jetport today celebrated the completion of a $21.6 million project with a ribbon cutting ceremony.  The project, funded by the Federal Aviation Administration, State of Maine and Portland Jetport, enhances the customer experience with additional restrooms, passenger boarding bridges and concourse space.  The project also assists the Jetport in meeting its sustainability and accessibility goals with ground power and pre-conditioned air systems on the new passenger boarding bridges and an adult changing station.

Specifically, included in the expansion are:  3 passenger boarding bridges, 7 ADA accessible all-gender toilets, 1 Service Animal Relief Area, 1 adult changing station, 3 ground power and pre-conditioned air units and 4,200 sq. feet of new concourse.

“This project was really focused on meeting the needs of our passengers,” said Paul Bradbury, Airport Director.  “Maine is the oldest state in the nation when you look at average age and this facility will help meet the needs of an aging traveler with ADA accessible toilets, an adult changig station, service animal relief area and the ability to use a passenger boarding bridge to board your flight instead of walking outside and using exterior boarding ramps,” he said.  The concourse is now open for passenger use.

Earlier in the day, the Jetport reported that a small plane had skidded off the runway.  That happened at 12:16 pm.  After landing the small general aviation aircraft left the runway and came to rest approximately 300 feet off the side of the runway in the grass.  Portland Fire Deprtment Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting crews responded.  The runway was closed for approximately 25 minutes while emergency personnel and airport operations teams assessed the situation.  There was one individual on the aircraft and there were no injuries.  The runway has been reopened, according to Zachary Sundquist, Assisant Aiport Director.