Portland International Jetport to overhaul restaurant concessions in 2026 under new master operator contract

A long-static dining roster is set for its first major refresh in more than a decade

Portland International Jetport is preparing to change its in-terminal restaurant and bar lineup beginning in 2026, as the airport replaces its master food-and-beverage concession operator under a new long-term contracting structure.

The shift centers on a master concessionaire model: a single company would oversee all food and drink locations inside the secure gate area, then partner with individual brands through franchise or joint-venture agreements. City officials have been evaluating three proposals and have indicated an award is expected in December, setting up a transition that begins in early February 2026.

Why the Jetport is rebidding its food program now

The airport’s existing master concession contract dates to the early 2010s and has kept the core vendor mix largely unchanged. Today, the gate area is served by five primary food-and-beverage options: Linda Bean’s Lobster Cafe, Shipyard Brewport, Burger King, Great American Bagel and Starbucks. Aside from limited grab-and-go additions, the lineup has remained stable for years.

Under the new procurement, the airport is seeking an operator able to modernize the program while keeping service available during construction and turnover. Planning documents describe an initial 17-month period beginning Feb. 2, 2026, intended to allow build-outs to proceed in phases while maintaining food service. After that ramp-up, the operating term is structured to run through June 30, 2037.

What changes travelers could notice—and what will likely stay the same

Airport leadership has signaled that the number of sit-down venues is expected to remain at five in 2026, with the possibility of expanding options later. The near-term focus is a rebuild or refresh of existing restaurant spaces and a rebalanced mix of local and national brands designed for airport operating constraints.

Those constraints include security screening for deliveries, staffing requirements tied to background checks and checkpoint access, and the seasonal volatility of passenger volumes—factors that can complicate staffing, hours and supply chains compared with street-front restaurants.

The business stakes: investment requirements and projected sales

The rebid is also shaped by the scale of airport food sales. Jetport concessions posted roughly $10.6 million in gross food-and-beverage sales in the fiscal year that ended June 30, and airport projections for the upcoming operating term anticipate total sales exceeding $120 million over 10 years.

Proposal scoring criteria include a minimum investment of $5 million for rebuilding restaurant areas, alongside experience, staffing and customer-service planning. The phased timeline is designed to limit downtime while upgrades occur one location at a time.

Separate track for retail concessions

The city has also outlined a separate future solicitation for news, gifts and other retail concessions. Under the procurement structure described, the company awarded the food-and-beverage contract would not be eligible to compete for the retail package.

• Transition start: Feb. 2, 2026 (initial 17-month build-out and changeover period)
• Long-term operating structure: July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2037
• Minimum rebuild investment referenced in evaluation criteria: $5 million

The airport’s stated goal is to modernize dining spaces and broaden offerings while maintaining a practical mix of recognizable brands and locally identifiable concepts suited to the time-sensitive airport environment.