Pittsburgh International Airport’s new $1.7 billion landside terminal is set to open early next week, airport officials announced.
After over a decade of planning and four years of construction work, the terminal will open to the public on Nov. 18. It replaces a much older concourse that was originally designed as a US Airways hub for connecting passengers.
The new facility includes 12 TSA lanes, a wing for international arrivals, space for 20 new shopping and dining stands, a more efficient baggage delivery system, and a welcome point for visitors greeting arriving passengers. Airport leaders expect the terminal will streamline security operations – currently split between main and alternate checkpoints – and cut baggage wait times in half.
Earlier this year, the terminal was subjected to “stress tests” involving over 2,000 participants, who provided feedback and helped planners refine certain features, like the layout of security stanchions.
The development also includes a 3,300-space parking garage, outdoor terraces, and a pedestrian Skybridge connecting the new terminal to the existing airside terminal. The Skybridge will eliminate the airport’s need for its underground tram system, which will be decommissioned and closed.
Officials told WTAE-TV that shutting down the people mover will save about $4.5 million per year.
“This is a new day for our region,” Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis said in a statement. “This is an airport built for Pittsburgh, by Pittsburgh. It improves the passenger experience and ensures this region remains on a global stage.”
Pittsburgh International Airport is the second-busiest airport in Pennsylvania, behind Philadelphia. As of January, its largest airlines were Southwest (which flew 26.6% of the airport’s passengers) and American (22.2%), followed by Delta (16.9%) and United (14.8%).
