Port of Portland Promoting Major Private Jet Expansion at the Hillsboro Airport

Miki Barnes
April 7, 2025

A March 25, 2025, Nation article, These Activists Are Right: The World Doesn't Need Any More Private Jets, identifies private jet travel as "one of the most carbon-polluting modes of transportation in the world." The report, authored by Chuck Collins, the Director of the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies, focused in large part on the Massport owned and operated Hanscom Field, where impacted residents, community groups and environmental organizations have voiced strong opposition to a controversial private jet expansion proposal. When initially established in 1956, Massport, a Massachusetts agency, was charged with promoting civil aviation and economic growth. However, in response to public outcry,

"In November 2024, the Massachusetts legislature passed a comprehensive climate bill that included an update to Massport's charter to require the agency to address greenhouse gas emissions from aviation" and "to promote ‘environmental protection and resilience, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental justice principles' in its decision-making. Massport's initial charter was written in an era of booming aviation growth, prior to any understanding of climate change."

The article referenced the findings of a recently released study,

"A new international study from Sweden found that carbon dioxide emissions from private jet travel surged 46 percent between 2019 and 2023, with 68.7 percent of the private jets registered in the United States. In 2023, direct private jet emissions were 15.6 megatons, with an average of 3.6 tons per flight.

"The Swedish study found that only 0.003 percent of the population use private jets, around 256,000 people worldwide. Each of them produces nearly 500 times more carbon dioxide in a year than the average citizen. The study also found that half the flights (47.4 percent) were shorter than 311 miles, and "flight pattern analysis confirms extensive travel for leisure purposes, and for cultural and political events."

Port of Portland Promotes 14 Acre Hangar Campus for Jet Aircraft

According to the agenda for the 4/09/2025 Port Commission meeting, the Port is requesting "approval of a ground lease agreement with HIO Development LLC, a subsidiary of Sky Harbour Holdings LLC, for development of a business aviation hangar campus at the Hillsboro Airport."

"Sky Harbour seeks to lease vacant Hillsboro Airport land to construct a Home Base hangar campus for jet aircraft. At full buildout, the development would serve sub-tenants consisting of marquis corporate and private flight departments, and include two rows of interconnected hangars, a common aircraft ramp, fueling and vehicle parking facilities. The improvements will include stormwater management. This tenant seeks a 35-year lease with a 10-year extension option on up to 13.165 acres.The development is planned to occur in two phases, with the initial phase developing approximately 343,500 square feet. The second phase will develop approximately 230,000 square feet and will occur within five years of the first phase." (See pg. 12 of the agenda packet)

At a time when Oregonians are reeling from massive federal firings, rollbacks of environmental protections, attacks on the judiciary, the abuse and mistreatment of immigrant populations along with cuts to education, USAID and a host of other vital democratic institutions, the Port of Portland is cozying up to the billionaires and millionaires whose expensive travel, business and lifestyle choices disproportionately pollute and degrade the environment.

Extreme weather events have become increasingly more frequent in Oregon. Over the past few weeks flooding in Harney County has caused extensive damage and now poses serious risks to public health and the environment. Wild fires are an ongoing issue, "In 2024, fires burned more than 1.93 million acres in Oregon, 18 times the amount compared to 2023." As pointed out in a 10/17/2024 OPB report, the damage to grazing land, increased costs for firefighting, and associated expenses further worsen the adverse effects.

In short, at a crucial juncture in the history of this planet when many Oregonians are making a concerted effort to reduce their carbon footprint by driving less, using public transit, bicycling, walking, and supporting high speed rail options, the Port of Portland, rather than advocating for a significant reduction in air traffic, is promoting aviation growth and expansion on behalf of a wealthy few.

Please note: the Hillsboro Airport has no forum for public input. The noisy, toxic aviation activities that are poisoning this community and this planet are made by the Governor-appointed, unelected Board of Port Commissioners.

Take Action

The next monthly meeting of the Port Board of Commissioners is:

• Date and Time: Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 9:30 AM
• Location: Chinook Room on the 8th floor of the Port of Portland Headquarters Building, 7200 N.E. Airport Way in Portland, Oregon 97218.
• A virtual option is also available.

Per the Port's website:

"Written public comments can be submitted via email at testimony@portofportland.com. If you submit comments in writing, they will be distributed to all Commissioners for their review. If you wish to provide live testimony, you may do so in person, or you may send an email with your first and last name to testimony@portofportland.com and you will be provided with a link to testify via MS Teams. Please limit your comments to two minutes. The deadline to sign up for live testimony via MS Teams is noon on the day prior to the Port of Portland Commission Meeting." [In this case, noon on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.] To access the Port packet on this meeting click here.

The public comment section occurs at the beginning of the meeting.

In addition, contact your state senators and representatives. Urge them to oppose this expansion and to follow the Massachusetts Legislature's lead in requiring airports to reduce greenhouse gases and address both environmental and environmental justice impacts.