Transformed PIT Meets the Needs of Today and the Future

When the first passengers journeyed through the new terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) on Nov. 18, it marked the culmination of more than a decade of work to transform the airport for today and the future.

The evolution began when Christina Cassotis became CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA) in 2015 and emphasized PIT’s role as a growing origin-and-destination airport dedicated to serving Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh-based travelers were not the focus when the airport opened on Oct. 1, 1992, as a US Airways hub. It lacked many of the features the new front door to the region features, such as universal design and wayfinding, and enhanced dining and shopping options.

When 80 percent of the airport traffic was hub passengers, those 15 million to 16 million travelers arrived at the airside terminal and stayed there before taking a connecting flight to their final destinations.

Secondary consideration was given to the approximately 4 million origination-and-destination passengers who used the security checkpoints and traveled the half-mile distance between the two terminals on the people mover trains while their bags traversed about 8 miles.

By closing the half-mile gap between terminals, the ACAA estimates that combined, airlines operating at PIT will save more than $20 million annually in operational and maintenance costs.

Today, Pittsburgh is the starting point (origin) and/or the ending point (destination) of 98 percent of passengers at the airport, according to 2024 figures. That means approximately 9.95 million passengers in 2024 were using an outdated system.

Eliminating the distance between the two terminals and focusing on Pittsburgh passengers will not only increase efficiency and convenience, it also will address the airport’s transformation to an O&D airport and help set its course for success for years to come.

Take a look at the improvements:

• Faster and more streamlined security experience: The new terminal has one consolidated checkpoint with 12 state-of-the-art TSA lanes, compared to seven at the main checkpoint today, and eliminates the need for an alternate checkpoint.

• Faster baggage delivery: Now, waiting for baggage is becoming a thing of the past as the 8 miles that bags used to travel has been cut down to 3 miles in an upgraded modern system that not only save time but money.

• New international arrivals experience: The international arrivals process has undergone a major upgrade, including a complete overhaul of the Customs and Immigration area, streamlining passenger flow and improving operational efficiency. That includes a new dedicated international baggage handling system.

• Better, more efficient parking options: With 3,300 spaces, the new Terminal Garage features twice the amount of covered parking and the latest technology, including digital signs with real-time counts of available spaces and green lights to indicate where open spots can be found. New rental car counters line the covered connection between the new terminal and garage, creating better integration and simplicity for passengers. PIT also added the Terminal Lot, an approximate five-minute walk to the terminal’s front door. The Shuttle Lot includes thousands of parking spaces and new, heated shelters with a shuttle tracking system that displays real-time information.

• Welcome Point: Passengers arriving to the transformed terminal will enter PIT’s Welcome Point – a spacious spot for all airport visitors to wait for arriving passengers with improved seating and food and beverage options.

 

 

 

• Enhanced shopping and dining: Travelers will see 20 new or refreshed concessions as part of the renovated airside terminal experience, including local favorites like Mineo’s and national brands such as Shake Shack and more.

• Universal access: The new terminal is guided by principles that make travel easier for all by creating services that benefit every passenger – from building design to a user-friendly digital experience.

 

• Skybridge: The Skybridge connects the new landside terminal with the existing airside terminal for a quicker, more seamless connection from the security checkpoint to the airside terminal than the train.