Portland International Airport Modernizes Display Network to Boost Efficiency, Security

As part of a sweeping $2 billion renovation known as "PDX Next," Portland International Airport (PDX) has implemented a state-of-the-art upgrade to its flight information display system, transforming a fundamental aspect of airport operations and passenger experience.

Completed in September 2024, the project replaced aging infrastructure with 378 LG LCD displays powered by the company’s proprietary webOS™ and ConnectedCare technologies.

The effort is already being recognized as a model for display modernization, combining simplicity, robust security, and scalability. The deployment eliminates the need for traditional media players and dramatically reduces the labor and time required to manage screen content across one of the nation’s most trafficked airports.

"We prioritized security and simplicity, and LG delivered," said Scott Shepler, IT Manager at the Port of Portland. "The built-in webOS allowed us to transition away from separate media players, ensuring standardized security settings across all displays."

Reducing Complexity, Improving Passenger Experience

The display system overhaul was driven by several intersecting priorities. As the airport prepared for a projected annual footfall of 35 million travelers, it needed to enhance the traveler experience while lowering the operational complexity of managing legacy systems. The previous generation of displays relied on external media players and video transceivers, increasing both maintenance costs and the risk of failure.

"We had aging monitors," said Michael Croston, Senior IT Manager at the Port of Portland. "It was a good chance to clean things up and modernize the backend. That was the primary goal — to simplify from a maintenance perspective."

Every screen, ranging from 43 to 98 inches, is equipped with LG’s webOS system-on-chip (SoC) platform, enabling it to function as a stand-alone smart device. This change was critical to reducing the complexity of installations and minimizing the airport’s hardware footprint.

"It was truly the integrated OS on the monitor itself that was the enormous driver for us," said Croston. "It gave us the opportunity to repurpose structured cabling and eliminate specialized cables — aligning the infrastructure with our long-term modernization goals."

Shepler added that the switch also meant repurposing existing structured Ethernet cabling rather than relying on outdated low-skew video transmission setups, saving on costs and simplifying future upgrades.

"Now we’re basically just putting browsers out there built into the monitors to display content," Shepler said. "That simplified connection and administration saved us money and reduced licensing and upgrade burdens."

The web-based approach not only simplified content management but also dramatically enhanced security. During a recent cybersecurity breach that affected many U.S. airports, PDX’s displays remained fully operational because the LG system is not reliant on Windows OS or traditional networked infrastructure.

"When CrowdStrike happened, it didn’t affect [PDX's system] because it’s on our platform," said Dan Verbsky, Transportation Account Manager for LG Business Solutions USA. "All their flight information, bags, gates — none of it was affected."

ConnectedCare allows PDX to push consistent configurations across all displays, turning off all unused ports and securing access via password protection. “We turned off USB ports, IR sensors, on-screen menus — everything,” Shepler said. “And now we can push those settings out automatically using ConnectedCare, without physically visiting every monitor.”

Lessons Learned and Funding Structure

Implementation challenges included integrating ConnectedCare with the airport’s protected network and coordinating installation logistics with third-party contractors working in secure airport zones.

"We had to time installations with cable pulls and coordinate between trades to minimize downtime in public-facing areas," Croston said. "Because many monitors were in sterile areas, scheduling was critical."

One early technical hurdle was compatibility between HTML content and the Chromium-based browser embedded in webOS. "You need to make sure your content works with the specific browser version built into the monitor," Shepler advised. "We had to update firmware and sometimes work with partners like airlines to modify their content."

While exact funding details for the display project were not separately broken out, it was a component of the broader PDX Next capital improvement plan. That $2 billion initiative includes contributions from federal grants, state allocations, passenger facility charges, and airport revenue bonds.

PDX leaders believe the display network upgrade is a cornerstone in their strategy to deliver a world-class airport experience. As the terminal expands and welcomes more passengers, the LG system provides a scalable and secure platform that can easily accommodate future additions.

"It’s been super extensible," Croston said. "As we added monitors with our new terminal facility, they integrated seamlessly. We didn’t have to do upgrades or learn new technologies — it just worked."

Passenger response has been positive as well. New monitors are larger and brighter, improving visibility and accessibility. "Even as we were swapping them out, people would comment right there on the spot about how much nicer they looked," Croston added.

Other airports are now following PDX’s lead. "We’re having other airports see this and start to adopt it," Verbsky said. "And we’ve got more advancements coming, like a mobile app for ConnectedCare and a next-gen WebOS display with triple the memory and processing speed."

PDX officials recommend integrating display installation into broader construction scopes to streamline project management.

"Let construction contractors handle physical work, and we’ll manage configuration and content. It makes life a lot easier," Croston said.

"We were kind of early adopters of ConnectedCare," he added. "It was clunky at first, but LG listened. They responded to our feedback and improved the product. That kind of partnership is rare — and it made all the difference."