Pittsburgh International Airport seeks volunteers ahead of opening new $1.5 billion terminal

Paul Hoback, executive vice president and chief development officer at ACAA, told Pittsburgh NPR News: “We're an airport now that was designed for a different function. We needed to do some type of renovation. And the renovation that makes the most sense — which actually meets our No. 1 priority with this project, which is stable and predictable airline costs — is the fact that we're reducing our costs to operate here by $23 million a year with this project alone. Not only that, it's improving the passenger experience.”

The new terminal will feature enhanced Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints with more operating lanes and advanced scanners designed to streamline passenger screening procedures. These improvements reflect PIT’s current status as an origin-and-destination airport rather than a transfer hub.

Baggage handling will also be upgraded; conveyor lengths will be reduced by over half to speed up delivery times from aircraft to carousel. Travelers will benefit from an additional 6,000 parking spaces and improved lighting throughout parking areas.

Design elements inside the terminal include natural-inspired aesthetics such as constellation lighting set into faux-wood ceilings and steel columns shaped like trees framing larger windows for increased daylight exposure. Four open terrace areas landscaped with local plants—including red maple and quaking aspen—will be accessible to all passengers rather than just VIPs.

Research from Gensler indicates that green spaces in airports offer significant benefits for travelers by providing places for relaxation amid busy terminals.

The dress rehearsal offers staff valuable data on operations while giving volunteers early access to experience the redesigned facility; participants will receive free parking but no financial compensation.