New terminal set to open at airport
By MEGAN TROTTER
TribLive
Pittsburgh International Airport will open its new terminal next week as part of a $1.7 billion modernization project.
After four years of construction, the new terminal will be open to travelers on Nov. 18.
“This is a new day for our region. 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 CEO Christina Cassotis said Monday in a news release.
The announcement follows several months of testing the new terminal, including two large public trials that involved more than 2,000 participants who shared feedback on their experience.
The new terminal features two nearby parking areas, adding more than 6,000 spaces equipped with snow-melt systems, electric vehicle charging stations, and a new space-finder system.
Inside, the terminal will include a consolidated security checkpoint with 12 TSA lanes — five more than before — along with the latest screening equipment and automated bin return.
The new terminal and front bridge are separated into three levels which are connected by elevators and escalators so travelers can move between levels, airport officials said.
Pittsburgh International Airport will feature four public terraces — two before security and two after — offering new spaces for travelers to relax.
As of Monday, the terraces were still under construction, but according to a news release, they’ll be decorated with natural landscapes inspired by Western Pennsylvania.
Inside the airport, travelers will find 20 new and updated concessions, including local favorite Mineo’s Pizza House and national brands like Shake Shack.
Baggage delivery is expected to be twice as fast, with the terminal reducing the conveyor system from eight miles to just three.
“You will get a sense of what Pittsburgh is from the minute you land,” Cassotis said in the news release. “And I think Pittsburghers will be surprised that there’s as much to brag about and feel proud about, that we can tell other people about.”
