Hub or Focus City? Alaska Airlines at Portland International Airport (PDX)

Overview

Alaska Airlines has long been the predominant carrier at Portland International Airport (PDX). Located less than 150 miles south of the airline’s largest hub at Seattle/Tacoma International airport (SEA), Portland has consistently been the airline’s second largest operation, even after the Virgin America merger in 2018. Generally, the network at PDX is a lighter version of Alaska’s at SEA. Lower frequencies across the board with fewer destinations notably internationally, in Washington state, east of the Pacific Time Zone, and in Alaska (essentially everywhere except for California). With close to 100 flights per day PDX is unique in the United State as few other airports of its size have a top carrier that isn’t Southwest. The major carriers in the United States; American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, focus on their larger hubs in major markets where they often control considerable market share and have a few focus cities splitting markets smaller than Alaska at PDX. Most other airports similar in size to PDX are strong Southwest Airlines focus cities (BNA, STL, SMF, etc.) or split between multiple carriers (RDU, TPA, etc.).

Flights

• 53 Destinations (including seasonal)

• 97 Departures

• 11,402 Seats

• 117.5 Seats per Departure

Share

• 37.2% of Departing Seats

• 44.9% of Departing Flights

Share with Partners (AA, BA, Condor)*

• 46.9% of Departing Seats

• 52.8% of Departing Flights

  *No Iceland Air flights on this date

Aircraft

• 737-800 - 5

• 737-8 - 3

• 737-900* - 33

• E175 - 56

  *These are likely subject to change as no Max 9s were listed on the schedule

#23 Baltimore / Washington International: Southwest 71%

#24 Philadelphia International (PHL): American 61%

#25 San Diego International (SAN): Southwest 36%

#26 Tampa International (TPA): Southwest 27%, Delta 18%

#27 Nashville International (BNA): Southwest 51%

#28 Austin Bergstrom International (AUS): Southwest 40%

#29 Chicago Midway (MDW): Southwest 90%

#30 Honolulu Daniel K Inouye (HNL): Hawaiian 46%

#31 Dallas Love Field (DAL): Southwest 96%

#32 Portland International (PDX): Alaska 37%

#33 Washington Dulles (IAD): United 66% (source)

#34 St Louis Lambert (STL): Southwest 63%

#35 Raleigh / Durham International (RDU): Delta 21%, American 21%

#36 Houston Hobby (HOU): Southwest 93%

#37 New Orleans Louis Armstrong (MSY): Southwest 35%

#38 Sacramento International (SMF): Southwest 58%

#39 John Wayne Santa Ana (SNA): Southwest 32%

#40 San Jose Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International (SJC): Southwest 64%

#41 Kansas City International (MCI): Southwest 48%

This is where Southwest dominates. Midsize markets and secondary airports operate in place of larger traditional hubs in their network. Very clearly in this case, the most similar “hub” to Alaska’s at PDX is Hawaiian Airline’s hub at Honolulu (HNL). Yes on the surface these hubs are very different, one is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean served by an airline with narrow and wide-body aircraft while one is on the West Coast served by an airline with only narrow-bodies. However, they are the only 2 midsize airports in the United States which are not led by Southwest, split by multiple focus cities (RDU, TPA), or a metropolitan area with multiple airports (IAD). PHL is the other airport of note in this group but it is about the point the list transitions from mid size airports to traditional hubs. The airport is a hub for American Airlines and total traffic is arguably hindered by American’s transatlantic dominance, swift competitive responses, and proximity to New York’s airports.