PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh International Airport officially opened its long-awaited $1.7 billion terminal early Tuesday, marking the airport’s biggest transformation in decades.
The project—more than 10 years in the making—ushered in a seamless overnight transition from the old facility. The final flight out of the previous terminal departed around 10 p.m. Monday, and TSA closed its old security checkpoint an hour later. By 12:30 a.m., the last bags rolled across the familiar tile as the final inbound flight from Atlanta arrived.
Around 1 a.m., the airport’s tram carried its last riders to the landside terminal before shutting down permanently.
The new terminal brings major improvements for travelers, including a 3,000-space parking garage equipped with smart technology that uses overhead green lights to signal open spaces. An adjacent surface lot adds another 2,800 spots. The former parking lots will now serve as economy parking, with heated bus shelters and shuttle service to the terminal.
At 2 a.m., the roadway to the new terminal opened and the old roadway closed. By 3 a.m., airline check-in was underway, and flights began operating from the new gates between 3 and 5 a.m.
United Flight 794 from San Francisco became the new terminal’s first domestic arrival at 5:12 a.m. Southwest Flight 1841 to Denver marked the first domestic departure at 5:30 a.m.
Airport officials say the new facility is designed to improve efficiency, reduce travel times, and offer a more modern experience for millions of passengers each year.
