Pittsburgh International Airport Records Busiest September In 20 Years
At 105.4% of passenger numbers from September 2019, this surpasses pre- pandemic levels and marks an excellent 8.5% rise from September 2023.
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Photo: Pittsburgh International Airport
The airport of the future
Pittsburgh International first opened in 1952, being initially served by five airlines. It quickly became a small hub for international airlines and remained so for over two decades. Following a billion-dollar expansion and rebuild that was completed in 1992, the airport was dubbed the 'airport of the future' by The New York Times, being considered one of the most innovative in the world.
When PIT was a competitive hub for US Airways, its X-shaped design and underground tram to transport passengers around were great solutions for managing foot traffic. However, by 2013 US Airways faced financial difficulties and merged with American Airlines in December that year. Following this merger, US Airways ended operations at PIT in 2015 leaving it without a dedicated carrier.
Photo: Pittsburgh International Airport
An updated vision
In years since then, PIT's design proved irksome for passengers with many having to walk long distances across three floors to reach their destinations. In response, an updated plan was announced in 2017 aiming to consolidate separate terminal operations into one central location within an 'X' design.
The renovation creates a new terminal for arrivals and departures including areas for single larger security checkpoints instead of multiple ones while re- locating baggage claim nearer gates reducing time taken by passengers getting on planes significantly.
Included is also a five-level parking area accommodating up to five thousand cars becoming Pennsylvania's largest single parking structure according to The Points Guy although concerns about construction quality have arisen:
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Pittsburgh International Airport Defends Integrity Of New Parking Garage Despite Cracking
Whistleblowers expressed concerns about construction quality.
Pittsburgh International already boasts one futuristic aspect; it became first globally powered by its own 'microgrid' using natural gas alongside ten- thousand solar panels ensuring independent power supply since early-2021 said Christina Cassotis CEO Allegheny County Airport Authority quoted by Natural Gas Intelligence:
“Pittsburgh International Airport is now one of most site-hardened public facilities worldwide while simultaneously becoming more sustainable.”
This move makes PIT resilient against power outages highlighted previously by several high-profile incidents causing thousands flight cancellations disrupting passengers significantly.
A significant economic improvement
According To PIT Transformed outlet dedicated development project building new terminal boosts local economy expecting addition fourteen-thousand three- hundred direct indirect jobs creating over seven-thousand eight-hundred tempo... Including five-hundred sixty-three pre-construction phase fifty-four hundred forty-eight during actual construction indirectly spinning off six-thousand fiv... Temporary regional jobs extending facility lifespan forty years generating two- point-five billion total economic activity bringing billion dollar labor income seven hundred million gross regional product valuing state local governmen... Generating twenty-seven million plus taxes annually according figures reported...
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