Inside Pittsburgh’s glistening new $1.7 billion terminal

Again within the day, mid-sized cities like Memphis, Kansas Metropolis and Pittsburgh had been dwelling to bustling airline hubs — crossroads of the nation the place tens of millions of connecting passengers handed by annually.

These days, nevertheless, are lengthy gone.

As airways consolidated and developed their networks, these airports shifted from connecting factors to purely origin-and-destination (O&D) gateways. In different phrases, they went from being main hubs facilitating connections to airports primarily serving vacationers who really dwell in or go to the realm.

That shift has pressured airports to rethink their goal and their design. Gone are the layouts optimized for fast connections and hub operations; of their place are amenities that prioritize comfort, effectivity and a way of place for native vacationers.

Pittsburgh Worldwide Airport (PIT) is the newest airport to reinvent itself. Since 2021, a serious $1.7 billion glow-up and reconfiguration has been underway.

The opening of the Terminal Modernization Program (TMP) is simply weeks away — earlier than the Thanksgiving vacation, as TPG first reported — and prematurely of the opening, I traveled to Pittsburgh with TPG’s Ben Mutzabaugh to get a sneak peek of what flyers can quickly count on.

The excellent news? There’s rather a lot to like, even for many who may need fond reminiscences of US Air’s (and later US Airways’) hub operation at PIT.

Departures space

From the second you pull as much as the brand new facility, you will doubtless be wowed by what you see, even in the event you’re not an area who will immediately respect the improve.

To start out, the three-level departures and arrivals corridor is a glistening new construction constructed adjoining to the present airport concourses.

It is positioned on the intersection of the C and D concourses and designed to focus the expertise on departing and arrival site visitors. (With no bustling hub, PIT’s site visitors consists of simply 3% connecting flyers.)

Departing vacationers will likely be dropped off on the high stage of the ability, the place you will catch a glimpse of the outdated landside terminal facility, in addition to the all-new parking storage and out of doors parking areas (extra on that later).

Regardless of the season, PIT’s new four-lane departures curb retains you shielded from the weather because of the roof overhang that covers a lot of the lanes.

There are three entrance vestibules to the brand new terminal, all resulting in the dramatic new check-in space.

I recommend coming into by the center vestibule to maximise your probabilities of oohing and aahing on the new terminal.

For me, the issues that instantly caught my eye embrace the hovering excessive ceilings, the plethora of pure gentle, the tree-inspired columns and the constellation-style lighting.

Collectively, these components are designed to offer vacationers a really feel for Pittsburgh’s timber and rolling hills.

I like how the ceiling undulates to naturally information flyers towards the brand new centralized safety space.

However earlier than getting there, you may have to cease on the modernized check-in desks positioned alongside the perimeter of the departures space.

As a result of American and Southwest are PIT’s two largest airways, they bought the check-in desks closest to the safety lanes. (Don’t fret, not one of the walks are lengthy right here.)

On the best way to safety, you will go PIT’s flagship piece of artwork, a kinetic cellular named “Pittsburgh” by Alexander Calder, in addition to a Hudson Information, Camden Meals Co. and a set of restrooms.

Talking of restrooms, every is designed with a novel piece of artwork hanging close to the doorway. All restroom doorways open outwards, and you may even discover a small contemporary flower association subsequent to every mirror, a la Lufthansa top quality.

You may discover plenty of seating earlier than safety — an intentional design alternative, defined Bob Kerlik, PIT’s director of public affairs — as a result of many PIT vacationers wish to drop off their family members contained in the terminal (and choose them up inside too).

The 12-lane safety checkpoint will convey a much-needed screening capability improve for PIT, hopefully eliminating the early-morning rush-hour traces you discover as we speak within the present facility.

You may discover each kind of safety lane right here — Clear, Precheck, precedence and normal — all of which will likely be processed utilizing the TSA’s newish blue Analogic machines.

After safety, passengers will stroll over a brief bridge decked out with a large digital display exhibiting rotating silhouettes of Pittsburgh’s way more well-known bridges, after which into one small tunnel earlier than being deposited into the central terminal core.

Anybody who’s been by PIT not too long ago will shortly notice that this new setup is lacking one factor: the automated individuals mover.

The brand new terminal was constructed adjoining to the gate areas, making for a much more environment friendly departing and arrival expertise for vacationers. It is also a less expensive answer for airways, saving them an estimated $20 million yearly, in response to PIT authorities.

Whereas the brand new terminal positive is eye-catching, the airport is not renovating (no less than, not but) the gate areas. You may discover some upgrades, akin to modernized restrooms and up to date digital signage and wayfinding close to the gates, however the concourses nonetheless largely resemble what they did again when US Airways jets might be seen at most gates.

This design stands in stark distinction to different mid-size former hub airports, like Kansas Metropolis, which have rebuilt their terminals — together with gate and concourse areas — from the bottom up.

That additionally means there is not any extra room for brand spanking new lounges; you will nonetheless discover an Admirals Membership and a common-use The Membership at PIT because the airport’s two lounges.

Arrivals space

Arriving passengers are additionally in for a deal with, as home arrivals will stroll on to the exit with out hopping on a practice.

There are eight baggage declare belts, 4 fewer than the present facility, however they’re all nicer, newer and — maybe most significantly — speedier than the outdated terminal. That is as a result of airways will not have to drive the baggage between the concourses and the landslide terminal. Every little thing will occur in a single facility, reducing the size that baggage have to journey from eight to 3 miles.

The bags claims even have distinctive paintings. 4 of them characteristic rotating phrases that evoke vacationers’ emotions whereas ready for his or her baggage; the opposite 4 characteristic life-size wood sculptures made domestically.

Talking of paintings, Pittsburgh did one thing I have not seen earlier than in all my travels. It turned the flight data shows into artwork. Sure, you will nonetheless simply catch a glimpse of your flight standing, however these shows are actually wrapped in wooden that is grown and handcrafted in Pittsburgh, including much more native aptitude to the airport.

One other factor designed to resemble the locale is the addition of 4 out of doors terraces: two positioned landside and two post-security. Sadly, simply one of many smaller, extra modest ones will likely be open on day one.

The bigger, extra spectacular decks will not be prepared till the spring, mentioned Kerlik.

That mentioned, they look like definitely worth the wait — particularly the one adjoining to the worldwide arrival space, which will likely be fantastically manicured and supply pop-up concessions and extra.

Vacationers arriving from worldwide locations who have to clear customs and immigration will go by a brand new federal inspection station, which connects to the principle arrivals corridor with a hallway decked out in native paintings.

After arriving, all vacationers will discover themselves on the second stage of the departures and arrivals corridor.

Household and good friend pickup will happen on this stage, whereas rideshares, shuttle buses and entry to the brand new storage can be found on the bottom stage.

Rideshare pickup has a devoted space with angled parking spots so vacationers can simply see the license plate of their assigned automobile.

In the meantime, a lined walkway results in the brand new five-story parking storage. The bottom flooring will likely be dwelling to the brand new consolidated rental automobile facility, whereas the remaining flooring (minus the roof) supply 3,271 lined parking areas — thrice greater than the earlier facility.

For individuals who do not thoughts braving the weather, there’s additionally a big open-air car parking zone adjoining to rideshare pickup with room for two,800 vehicles.

Charges for parking are anticipated to be introduced within the coming weeks.

Backside line

All in all, Pittsburgh’s carried out an important job reinventing itself for a post-hub period.

Whereas some airports may hearken again to the glory days after they had extra connectivity and tens of millions extra passengers, PIT is absolutely leaning into its new actuality as an origin and vacation spot airport.

The excellent news is that vacationers will now take pleasure in a much more environment friendly and modernized journey expertise, on par with a few of the nicest new U.S. airport terminals.

In fact, one may want they did not have to cease in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia or Atlanta to get to a few of the extra far-flung locations from Pittsburgh these days, however no less than the bottom expertise will likely be world-class.

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