Although Maine is a relatively small state, it is home to five airports that are located in different regions. At each of these airports, many of the major airlines, as well as a few of the smaller ones, provide flights to Maine. Portland International Jetport is serviced by Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Delta Express, Us Airways Express, United Express and Jet Blue. The Augusta Airport is serviced by US Airways Express. US Airways Express also has flights to Maine that fly into Bar Harbor and Presque Isle Airport. At Bangor International Airport, American Eagle, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest, and US Airways Express provide flights to Maine.
All flights to Bangor fly into Bangor International Airport. Since the late 1990s, the airport officials have been on a campaign to attract low-cost air carriers. They have been somewhat successful, since the number of passengers taking flights to Bangor has increased from 367,000 to 480,000 annually. At present, the Bangor International Airport only provides domestic flights. The international flights to Bangor are either connections from other US airports or military flights.
The Bangor International Airport has an economical parking facility. It is located within a short distance of the terminals. If you are just dropping someone off, there is free 15 minute parking. There are also a number of car rental facilities, as well as bus service to Boston and other parts of Maine.
Here’s a bit of trivia about the Bangor International Airport. If you are a Stephen King fan, you will be interested to know that the Bangor International Airport was the main ground setting for filming of The Langoliers. You might recall this famous line: I bought a ticket to Boston!
Flights to Portland Maine fly will into the Portland International Jetport. Before this airport became a major hub for any flights to Portland Maine, it was a private airport. In the 1920s, Dr. Curtis Strange created the space to land his private plane, the Curtiss Jenny. In a sense, this might be considered the first of all flights to Portland Maine. Before long, he developed a few grass runways on his land that attracted other flying hobbyists. However, in 1936, it was purchased by the City of Portland. Today, the Portland International Jetport has a number of service establishments which include newspapers, gift shop, Visitor Information Center, ATM, and a full-service restaurant. You will also find a number of car rental facilities, along with a taxi stand and ground transportation. The Portland Explorer is a unique ground transportation system that is the result of a private and public partnership. The Explorer goes to different parts of Portland, as well as various bus terminals and hotels.
When you are planning your trip, be advised that the cheapest time to fly to Maine is on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday. If possible, include a Saturday night stay.
