Port sets records for passengers and cargo

The Port of Portland set new records for airline passengers and cargo in 2007, according to data released this week.

More than 14.6 million air passengers traveled through Portland International Airport, beating the 2006 record of 14 million by 4.3 percent.

Similarly, the total amount of cargo shipped through the port's four marine terminals set a new record of 14.4 million tons, a 20.4 percent increase from 2006.

On the air side, Horizon Air eclipsed Southwest Airlines as the busiest carrier at PDX. Horizon served 2.8 million Portland passengers in 2007, a 14.4 percent increase. Southwest grew by 4 percent, serving 2.6 million passengers. Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, the only other carriers serving more than 1 million passengers annually, remained relatively stable, serving 2.4 million and 1.9 million passengers respectively.

Lufthansa, which launched a much-heralded direct flight to Frankfurt in 2003, reported 8 percent passenger growth in 2007, serving more than 150,000. Northwest Airlines, which offers the only direct flight to Asia, a nonstop to Tokyo, served 1 percent fewer passengers in 2007. The airline also offers domestic service.

In October, Northwest Airlines announced a partnership with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to offer Portland's second direct flight to Europe, a nonstop route to Amsterdam.

The port's marine business remained strong, despite the September loss of one of its four cargo shippers, Israel-based Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.

In addition to setting a new record for total tonnage, the number of vessels calling Portland increased 3.7 percent to 821.

The number of cargo containers serviced through Portland grew 21.3 percent to 260,000. Taiwan-based Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp., which is bringing much larger ships to Portland, has picked up some of the slack. Container volume is measured in 20-foot equivalent units.

Mineral bulk and grain tonnage also grew significantly in 2007, rising 25.1 percent and 18.9 percent respectively.

Auto imports, which set a record in 2006, fell slightly in 2007, especially toward the end of the year. Part of the decreased volume is due to new U.S. plants coming online for Asian-headquartered car manufacturers, reducing the need for imports. The port processed nearly 450,000 autos in 2007, a 3.1 percent decrease.

Source:RamblerNews