International flights from PDX

iain‬ ‪@maccoinnich.bsky.social‬  raised a question on 12/18:  How would you improve the international arrivals experience at PDX? Right now passengers have to take a bus to get to the International Arrivals area, after clearing customs and immigration at the Federal Inspections Services (FIS).

The FIS is located under the Vic Atiyeh Concourse at the end of Concourse D. Most international flights depart from there, and all but those from Canadian airports with preclearance arrive there. This area was built in the 1990s, when Delta operated a scissor hub for flights to Asia.

This area of the airport, especially the FIS, is probably the only part of PDX that has any current capacity constraints. The most logical way and least disruptive to address this would to extend the Vic Atiyeh Concourse further west.

 

 But you're still stuck with how to get arriving passengers back to the pre-security area. I've heard people mention the idea of a new international arrivals corridor at the lower level, but it would run straight into the various baggage roads that run through the terminal.

 The other idea I've heard is a new corridor at the mezzanine level, emerging roughly where domestic arrivals is temporarily located. But that would need to run straight into the soon-to-open Escape Lounge and the existing Delta Skyclub.

Anyone else have any ideas?  @maccoinnich.bsky.social‬