

The Portland International Jetport traces its roots back to May 1925 when Dr. Clifford “Kip” Strange, a Portland dentist, established the Stroudwater Flying Field for his JN-4 “Jenny” Biplane. Commercial service began in 1931 with Boston-Maine Airways, though it lasted just a month. In 1933, the City of Portland leased the airport to qualify for federal improvement funding.
In 1940, the Works Progress Administration built Portland’s official first terminal, later repurposed for Maine Aviation Corporation. During WWII, civilian traffic halted, but lend-lease aircraft passed through on their way to Canada.
The Portland International Jetport began to take its modern form in the 1950s and 1960s. Runway 11/29 was constructed in 1957 and extended in 1966, while the current terminal opened in 1968, ushering in the era of jet service. Northeast Airlines, famous for its bright yellow DC9 jets known as “yellow birds,” introduced Mainers to spring vacation flights to Florida. Following Northeast’s acquisition by Delta Airlines in 1972, Delta became a cornerstone of the Jetport’s operations.