The Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is nearing the completion of its $1.7 billion new terminal, which is expected to open by early November, ahead of the busy Thanksgiving and year-end holiday travel period. The new facility is the result of over ten years of planning and four years of construction, aiming to better serve the local community’s needs.
The terminal was designed by the firms Gensler, HDR, and Luis Vidal + Architects. Christina Cassotis, CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority, commented at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, "It's been a lot of work to get here." She added, "Being in this space feels good. And that's a pretty big statement for an airport to make." Cassotis also stated that while the exact opening date is not set, the terminal will be operational "several weeks" before Thanksgiving, pending final trials of security and baggage systems.
Pittsburgh’s airport has undergone significant changes since US Airways, once the primary airline at PIT, closed its hub in 2004 due to high costs and debt associated with the previous terminal. According to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, US Airways flights at PIT dropped from 380 daily departures in May 2004 to just 143 by December of that year, with further reductions in the following years.