Always Open: PIT and AGC Snow Crews Keep Planes Moving During Snowstorm
Working around the clock, crews kept the airport open for airline partners, passengers despite closures around the country
By Bob Kerlik
Published January 26, 2026
Read Time: 2 mins
Despite a nearly record-breaking snowfall this weekend, crews at Pittsburgh International Airport and Allegheny County Airport kept their runways clear and facilities and roads open.
Crews at PIT arrived Saturday evening, working around the clock through the storm clearing runways, taxiways and airport roads. The airport maintained three operational runways throughout the storm even as snow forced many airports across the country to close. Teams also provided smooth operations inside the terminal as well.
“I’m extremely proud of our snow fighting teams and what we accomplished during this storm. Our crews are among the best in the country and that showed this weekend,” said Jim Moorhead, Vice President, Airport Operations.
“Safety and security are always the top priority, and our teams are dedicated to keeping passengers and cargo moving and our roads and terminal open. It’s also important to note the investment airport leadership has made in our snow fighting equipment over the last several years to upgrade and modernize our fleet.”
This weekend’s snowstorm just missed tying the largest daily snowfall this century, according to the National Weather Service in Moon. Snow accumulation on Sunday totaled 11.2 inches just 0.2 inches shy of this century’s record.
Many airlines began cancelling weekend flights around the country as early as Friday and those numbers rose as the storm passed across the country. Airport officials expected cancellations to sharply decrease in the coming days as other airports reopened and the national airspace returned to normal operations.
Allegheny County Airport, which is home to a multitude of medical transports, maintained an open runway as well during the storm.
“We know that keeping our airfield open may be the difference between life or death for someone awaiting an organ transplant or a life-saving medical flight,” said Lance Bagnoff, Director, Allegheny County Airport. “Our team did a great job this weekend in difficult weather circumstances.”
