Pittsburgh International Airport's $1.5B terminal project makes big strides

Pittsburgh International Airport’s new landside terminal is taking shape.

Allegheny Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis said all of the steel for the terminal project has been erected. The $1.57 billion project includes construction of an 811,000-square-foot terminal, a 5,000-space parking garage and a connector bridge to link the new landside terminal with the airside terminal.

“It is moving fast,” said Cassotis. “It’s so much more impressive than I originally imagined.”

Airport officials and Alle­gheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald toured the terminal Monday morning, including driving up the 1,200-foot bridge that, when completed, will lead passengers into the new terminal.

The three floors of the terminal have been constructed, including the giant, tree-like columns that hold up the roof. The roof is being built to resemble the rolling hills of Appalachia and to let in more natural light. Glass windows have been placed on parts of the backside of the terminal, and the floors for future outdoor terraces have been set.

Fitzgerald touted the work completed on the terminal and said the new terminal will make Pittsburgh more competitive in getting additional flights and more nonstop destinations.

“This is something we are going to be proud of for a long time,” he said.

Cassotis said the terminal is on schedule to open in March 2025. The cost recently increased by 12% to $1.57 billion. Cassotis attributed the increase to bids for some projects coming in over budget. They were approved by the authority’s board and will be paid for by the airlines and the authority.

Fitzgerald said no local or state tax dollars are being used to fund the project, which is being paid for by fees from the airlines, some of the airport authority’s revenue and $20 million from the federal government.

The main difference between the new and old landside terminals is proximity to the airside terminal.

The new terminal will abut the airside terminal, which officials said will make transport from ticketing through security and to the gates faster and easier. The automated tram that now carries passengers from security to the gates no longer will be used.

During the tour, the current landside terminal was clearly in view about a half-mile west of the construction site.

The PIT terminal is really coming together. Here is a current shot and rendering of what it should look like when complete. It’s on pace to open first quarter of 2025 pic.twitter.com/39g0J2ksmS

— Ryan Deto (@RyanDeto) October 16, 2023

A short connector bridge designed in homage to the Fort Pitt Tunnel will connect the airside and landside terminals. The top level of the bridge is taking shape, and Fitzgerald walked across its span.

He joked passengers will have to “get their steps” somewhere else, because the new terminal will decrease walking distances significantly.

Officials said times for security and baggage claim also should speed up once the new terminal is complete. The new terminal will have room for double the security checkpoints, up to 11, including a family checkpoint. And bags no longer will need to be transported a half-mile on trucks between the landside and airside terminals.

Additionally, the new terminal will have more natural light and will catch rainwater to irrigate outdoor terraces that are accessible to passengers and those waiting to pick up friends and family.

“Access to fresh air on both the landside and airside terminals is pretty rare at U.S. airports,” said Cassotis.

The new terminal has three main floors. Departure ramps, ticketing and security gates will be on the top floor. The middle floor will house the arrival ramps and baggage claim. The vast majority of the bottom floor will be home to operations such as baggage handling and security technology, but the front section of the bottom floor is for ground transportation including taxis, rideshares, rental car stands, public transit and a walkway to the new parking garage.