An innovative new airport is set to open in Pittsburgh this month, right before the busy holiday travel season takes off.
The city’s newly constructed, state-of-the-art airport is set to open on Tuesday, November 18, just as the Thanksgiving travel rush begins.
When the new facility debuts, travelers will find notable and unconventional features, like faster baggage claim technology, a welcome point where friends and family can greet arriving travelers, and outdoor terraces where passengers can relax post-security.
“This is an airport built for Pittsburgh, by Pittsburgh,” said Christina Cassotis, CEO of Pittsburgh International Airport. “It improves the passenger experience and ensures this region remains on a global stage.” The new airport was a joint project designed by Gensler, Luis Vidal + Architects, and HDR.
The airport’s design makes the entire travel process more efficient, with total transit time from curbside to airside cut in half, according to Gensler. At the TSA checkpoint, passengers will have access to five additional security lanes for a total of 12, all of which are outfitted with the latest screening technology and automated bin returns.
A modern new Skybridge connects the airside and landside terminals, with colorful lights to add a playful touch to travelers’ journeys. “Walking through the Skybridge is akin to journeying through a Pittsburgh street with lighting that mimics the region’s natural landscape, bringing the outside in,” says an airport release.
The new baggage claim is also twice as fast as the previous one, with an upgraded system that is more efficient and a new design that cuts eight miles of bag conveyor belts down to just three miles.
But the airport isn’t just ultra-efficient, it’s also visually striking. “Undulating wood ceilings, tree-like columns, and a roofline inspired by rolling hills create a passenger experience that feels efficient and deeply local,” according to Gensler.
One additional deeply local element included in the layout is a welcome point to greet arriving passengers. “This aspect of the terminal is uniquely Pittsburgh, designed for a community that favors welcoming loved ones and guests in-person,” says the airport’s release.
Eventually, the terminal will open four outdoor terraces, two pre-security and two post-security, where passengers can step outside for “fresh air and a calm respite,” the airport release says. Once unveiled, the terraces will be landscaped with plants and greenery native to Western Pennsylvania.
“You will get a sense of what Pittsburgh is from the minute you land,” Cassotis said. “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.”
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