PIT Adds More Queuing Space to Checkpoint Line, Increases Efficiency

Pittsburgh International Airport has reconfigured several queues at its TSA checkpoint to help improve passenger flow, use space more efficiently and reduce congestion in the checkpoint area during peak travel periods.

PIT expanded the queueing space available in the main checkpoint line, the most-used screening option among PIT travelers. The additional space will provide greater capacity during the airport’s busiest periods and be available ahead of the holiday travel season. The reconfiguration includes adjustments to surrounding queues to create additional space for the standard screening line.

The changes are based on nearly a year of experience operating PIT’s new terminal and ongoing analysis by PIT and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of passenger volumes, wait times and checkpoint operations. Since the terminal opened in November 2025, PIT and TSA have monitored how passengers use the checkpoint and identified opportunities to adjust space, staffing and passenger flow to better meet demand.

A study of TSA wait time data earlier this year found that average wait times in PIT’s new terminal were the 6th fastest in the country with an average wait time of 4.6 minutes, according to Travel Bulletin, a travel industry publication. Wait times vary based on time of day.

“Opening a new terminal gave us an opportunity to rethink how passengers move through the airport, and we continue to make adjustments based on what we are learning,” said Lance Bagnoff, Interim Director of Airport Security at the Allegheny County Airport Authority. “Expanding the standard queue gives us more capacity where the greatest number of passengers need it, particularly during our busiest periods.”

Earlier this month, PIT also added a dedicated TSA PreCheck Touchless ID lane to further improve the screening experience.

The additional standard line queue is expected to alleviate congestion during the airport’s early morning peak period as well as peak travel times like the upcoming holiday season and summer travel.

“PIT and TSA work closely together every day to understand what is happening at the checkpoint and where we can make improvements,” Bagnoff said. “The new terminal was designed to give us flexibility, and we are using that flexibility to continually improve the experience for our passengers.”