Gallery Update: Chasing a 787-9 at PDX!

Today was the day I completed my British Airways Dreamliner collection at PDX by chasing down one of their 787-9s, the only variant I haven't photographed yet; you'll recall I've photographed one of their 787-10s last November, in addition to a couple of 787-8s last summer after inaugurating the new service between Portland and London. Like the occasional -10, British Airways has occasionally substituted in the 787-9 on the PDX route, likely dependent on passenger load demands.

While this wasn't my first time seeing a 787-9 (my first time was nearly six years ago now, when I spotted one of KLM's Dreamliners in Salt Lake City, which also happened to be my first time seeing a 787 ever!), it was good I ticked this one off my list because last year's rumors about British Airways up-gauging aircraft types on this route are now confirmed, with airline slated to send Boeing 777-200s in PDX later this summer, something else to look forward to in terms of plane-spotting!

Portland (PDX)

Preview:

Jazz Air (d/b/a Air Canada Express) Bombardier DHC-8-402 Dash 8 Q400 (C-GGOK) departing on 10L as JZA654 for Vancouver.

United Airlines Airbus A319-131 (N809UA) taxiing for departure as UAL2254 for Denver.

Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-323 (N817NW) departing on 10L as DAL178 for Amsterdam.

UAL2254 departing on 10L for Denver.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Embraer ERJ-170-200LR E-175LR (N262SY) arriving on 10L as SKW4131 from Seattle-Tacoma.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 (N933AK) departing on 10L as ASA646 for Phoenix-Sky Harbor.

SKW4131 taxiing to the gate.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Alaska Airlines) Embraer ERJ-170-200LR E-175LR (N183SY) departing on 10L as SKW3333 for Santa Rosa.

Delta Air Lines Airbus A319-114 (N371NB) arriving on 10L as DAL2631 from Salt Lake City.

DAL2631 taxiing to the gate.

Horizon Air (d/b/a Alaska Airlines) Embraer ERJ-170-200LR E-175LR (N628QX) departing on 10L as QXE2436 for Boise.

British Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (G-ZBKP) arriving on 10L as BAW26PV from London-Heathrow. My second time seeing a 787-9 overall, but my first time seeing a 787-9 in the British Airways livery!

After introducing the 787-8 to their fleet in 2013, British Airways took delivery of their first 787-9 two years later in September 2015.

This particular airframe was delivered to the airline in December 2016.

Seeing British Airways send all three variants of the 787 just goes to show how versatile the type really is when serving markets like Portland where the point-to-point model works.

Considering that British Airways is up-gauging to the Triple 7 later this summer, the route must be doing fairly well to justify it!

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-890 (N530AS) departing on 10L as ASA1320 for Ontario, California.

BAW26PV taxiing to the gate to be processed by customs.

The 787-9 first flew on September 17, 2013 and is 20 feet longer in fuselage length than the base model 787-8.

The 787-9 also retains the same wingspan as the 787-8.

Note that the flight number BAW26PV (and the return leg BAW26VP) using an alphanumeric call-sign. Flight numbers used to be BAW267 and BAW266. This apparently has been done avoid confusion in the ATC system with similar-sounding airline call-signs and even flight numbers.

Scheduled depart later this evening as BAW26VP for the return-trip to London-Heathrow.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 (N282WN) taxiing to the gate after arriving on 28R as SWA2729 from Oakland. Departure/Arrival flows changed after the winds shifted.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-790 (N622AS) arriving on 28L as ASA1089 from Sacramento.

This is a sad sight. The Alaska Air Group officially retired their Dash 8 fleet last month on January 26, 2023. Many airframes (which likely still have some life left in them!) are currently stored in various locations including PDX. Hopefully, many of these airframes will find new homes. Portland used to be a "Dash 8 mecca" on the west coast thanks to Horizon Air's Dash 8s. Once again, people here in the states disavowed the turboprop...

Spirit Airlines Airbus A320-271N (N938NK) taxiing for departure as NKS2234 for Las Vegas.

NKS2234 departing on 28L for Las Vegas.

FedEx Express Boeing 767-300F (N277FE) arriving on 28L as FDX781 from Memphis. Note the decal commemorating the 100th 767 freighter to join FedEx's fleet!

I don't what's harder believe; the fact that Boeing is still producing 767s (freighter variants only) in 2023, or FedEx now having 100 767-300Fs in their fleet. The cargo giant expects to take delivery of new 767-300Fs until 2025 and is currently the world's largest operator of the type.