PIT’s New Terminal, Airlines Ready for Thanksgiving Travel

The new Pittsburgh International Airport is expected to ease some of the stress of the hectic holiday travel season.

On Monday, PIT and AAA hosted a press event to inform the public about what to expect for air travel this Thanksgiving and to give tips on how to navigate the new terminal.

AAA expects nearly 82 million people will travel 50 miles or more from their homes this Thanksgiving, a new record for the holiday.

“If you are one of those folks who are traveling, make sure you’re giving yourself plenty of extra time out the door, getting to the airport and through security,” said Jim Garrity, Director of Public Affairs for AAA East Central. “We’re expecting millions of people coming through this region alone and tens of thousands through this airport.”

Pittsburgh is one of the top trending destinations among travelers this Thanksgiving. Google Flights ranked Pittsburgh sixth among destinations with the highest year-over-year increase in flight searches for the Thanksgiving travel period.

PIT expects Thanksgiving travel to be up significantly this year versus last.

Between Nov. 23 and Dec. 1, airlines at PIT are scheduled to operate over 324,000 arriving and departing seats, up 10.5 percent from the same period in 2024.

Air service additions from earlier this year are large contributors to the increase this Thanksgiving. New service in 2025 includes Allegiant Air to Phoenix, American Airlines to Los Angeles, JetBlue Airways to New York-JFK and Fort Lauderdale and Breeze Airways to Greenville-Spartanburg.

Numerous existing routes have also seen increased or extended service year-over-year such as Allegiant to Orlando-Sanford and West Palm Beach; American to Chicago-O’Hare, Miami and New York-LaGuardia; Breeze to Los Angeles and Providence; Southwest Airlines to Nashville and Sarasota; and United Airlines to Denver.

Back on track

Air travel has largely returned to normal following a record 43-day-long government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. At its peak, the shutdown triggered widespread staffing shortages of air traffic controllers and security personnel who worked without pay during the period.

Concerns over air safety prompted the Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration to enact an emergency order requiring airlines to reduce flights nationwide. The cuts, which took effect Nov. 7, caused airlines to scramble to reduce up to 6 percent of their daily schedules, causing thousands of delays and cancellations.

Following mounting pressure from regulators and airlines, the federal government re-opened on Nov. 12 with a deal struck by Congress and approved by President Donald Trump, resuming pay for federal workers. Federal regulators said that air traffic controller shortages quickly subsided shortly after the government re-opened.

The DOT and FAA canceled the emergency order on Nov. 16, paving the way for airlines and airports to return to normal operations. On Thursday, the DOT and FAA announced that hundreds of air traffic controllers and FAA technicians who were required to work without pay during the federal government shutdown will receive a $10,000 bonus in December.

“I am profoundly proud and grateful for the air traffic personnel who worked during extraordinary operational challenges to keep the [National Airspace System] running safely during the longest government shutdown,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a statement. “Their dedication represents the highest levels of public service.”

With the government shutdown now in the rear-view mirror, airlines are ready to get back on track for one of the busiest travel periods of the year while reassuring travelers of safe, reliable operations.

“Thanksgiving is going to be a great holiday period of travel,” said Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian in an interview with “CBS Mornings” on Nov. 13.

“Customers making last-minute holiday plans — and those who booked months ago — can rest assured that our operation will run smoothly and safely,” said David Seymour, American’s Chief Operating Officer, in a statement.

American said it plans to operate 80,759 scheduled mainline and regional flights this Thanksgiving travel period, up from a year ago and the most of any carrier. Meanwhile, United expects to fly 6.6 million customers between Nov. 20 and Dec. 2., up over 4 percent from the same period last year.

Industry trade group Airlines for America forecasts U.S. airlines to carry more than 31 million passengers for holiday travel between Nov. 21 and Dec. 1, an all-time high for the period. The industry expects Sunday, Nov. 30, to be the most traveled day of the Thanksgiving holiday.

“We are really confident going into a busy Thanksgiving travel season,” TSA Chief of Staff Adam Stahl told CBS News on Nov. 14. “We are really laser-focused on this busy travel season. We are ready.”

While airlines and TSA are preparing for the influx of passengers, federal regulators are asking travelers to bring their best behavior with them to the airport. On Nov. 19, DOT Secretary Sean Duffy announced the launch of a new civility campaign to curb disruptive behavior and promote a better travel experience for the flying public.

The campaign poses, “a few key questions every flyer should ask themselves this holiday season to help Americans reach their destinations as quickly, efficiently and comfortably as possible.” The DOT listed instances such as helping pregnant women or elderly travelers with placing bags in overhead bins, dressing respectfully and displaying courtesy to flight crews.

The campaign cites FAA data noting increasing air travel-related behavioral incidents in the last few years, including a 400 percent increase of in-flight outbursts since 2019, “ranging from disruptive behavior to outright violence.”

Planning smart for stress-free travel

Even with the opening of the new terminal with all its improvements in convenience, efficiency and passenger comfort, travel during this time can still be stressful if you don’t plan ahead.

The new terminal is easily accessible off the Parkway, as it has been in the past. Signs will direct travelers to the Arrivals and Departures drop-off and pick-up levels as well as the parking options.

READ MORE: Know Before You Go: Tips for Your Inaugural Trip at the New PIT

Before leaving

PIT recommends travelers to check on traffic and their flight status before leaving for the airport. Heavier than usual traffic will be using the roads in and around the airport adding additional time to get to the airport.

Although weather may not be an issue at PIT (the airport hasn’t closed in over 30 years), planes are arriving from locations throughout the country and weather may impact their departure to PIT. It is recommended to check with your airline, FlyPittsburgh.com or a flight tracker website or app on your flight status before leaving for the airport.

Reserve a parking space

PIT offers affordable parking conveniently located to the terminal.

The new Terminal Garage is a short, 5-minute covered walk into the new terminal. It features over 3,200 public spaces, with 2,400 of these covered across three parking levels, doubling the availability of covered spaces compared to the now-closed Short Term Garage.

Adjacent to the new terminal is the new Terminal Lot, a flat-grade, paved surface lot with over 2,800 spaces. It offers a convenient and quick 3–5-minute walk to the ground floor of the new terminal.

The Long Term Lot and part of the Extended Lot have been combined to create a new, stress-free parking experience named the Shuttle Lot.

With over 8,000 spaces, the Shuttle Lot has added eight new 35-passenger shuttle buses to its fleet that will transport passengers to and from the terminal, with an expected journey time of 10 minutes, tripling the number of shuttle buses previously available.

READ MORE: Onsite Airport Parking Is the Smart Traveler’s Choice

During the holidays, the lots tend to fill to near capacity. It is highly recommended to reserve a space in one of the lots and receive a discounted rate and a guaranteed spot. Pre-book reservations for the new Terminal Garage, Terminal Lot and Shuttle Lot at PARKatPIT.com.

Free Cell Phone Lot is back

PIT has added a new Free Wait Lot for passengers being picked up. Drivers can now park for up to an hour free, eliminating the need to circle the campus and avoiding a ticket by Allegheny County Police for parking along the side of the road.

Arrive early

PIT recommends arriving at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights. This extra time helps passengers move through check-in, security and airport amenities without feeling rushed. Travel tends to be busier during early morning so build in additional time during if you are flying then.

Real ID or other accepted forms of government ID are required. The complete list can be found on TSA’s website.

The new terminal has consolidated the TSA checkpoint in one location (3rd Floor). Travelers departing from PIT will now be screened through a brand-new, cutting-edge security checkpoint featuring 12 dedicated lanes.

The new screening equipment is designed to strengthen security, boost capacity and deliver a significantly improved passenger experience.

The equipment includes Computed Tomography (CT) scanners – providing detailed 3D images of bag contents, allowing laptops, electronics and liquids that are 3.4 ounces or less to remain in carry-ons.

Know the TSA rules of what can and can’t be carried on at the TSA website.

Explore new concessions

With expected record numbers of travelers, PIT recommends that travelers arrive 3 hours before their flight during the holidays, although some airline ticketing and baggage check counters do not open until 2 hours before their first flight. Check with the airlines when the counters open.

If you arrive early, PIT has opened 20 new food and retail concessions since last Thanksgiving to make your wait more enjoyable.