New Pittsburgh International Airport Terminal Opens

FINDLAY TOWNSHIP, PA — A new era in Western Pennsylvania travel began Tuesday with the opening of Pittsburgh International Airport's new $1.7 billion Landside Terminal. The opening culminates more than a decade of planning and four years of construction.

The new terminal replaces an outdated 32-year-old old terminal that airport officials contend will proved an enhanced air travel experience for travelers.

According to Blue Sky News, the airport's online website, the first inbound passengers to use the new terminal were on a redeye from United Airlines flight 794 from San Francisco. Upon arriving at the arrivals level, they were greeted by airport CEO Christina Cassotis and participated in an opening moment celebration.

The event included a "You Have Arrived" photo opportunity backdrop, as well as airport-branded wooden luggage tags and stickers highlighting the new terminal's features.

Early morning departures included Southwest Airlines flights to Denver and Baltimore and an American Airlines flight to Miami.

Parking at the new Pittsburgh International Airport terminal: What to know.

The complex switch between the old and new terminals occurred overnight as roadways were switched over to direct motorists to the new terminal as the old one closed.

At around 2:30 a.m., the tram that connected the Landside and Airside terminals for decades took its final trip and then was decommissioned. The two terminals now are connected by the Skybridge, a spectacularly-lit link that was modeled after the city's Fort Pitt Tunnel welcoming passengers to the city.

More than 15 new concessions have been or will be introduced at PIT, reflecting the airport's commitment to meeting passenger feedback and evolving traveler needs. Notable additions include Jimmy John's, Shake Shack, Wexford-based coffee and tea house Café Conmigo, Mexican restaurant Mi Casa Cantina, Mineo's Pizza and more.