New Pittsburgh International Airport Terminal: Sneak Peek

FINDLAY TOWNSHIP, PA — There are no arriving or departing travelers in it yet, but Pittsburgh International Airport's new billion Landside Terminal is a hub of activity as 1,200 laborers work to finish the $1.57 billion facility in time for a fall opening.

The new terminal, which is more than 80 percent complete, promises to provide additional parking, shorter waits at security checkpoints and baggage claim, and outdoor plazas where people can relax before boarding their flights.

It will replace the current Landside Terminal, which opened in 1992 and is plagued with antiquated equipment and technology, frequent security checkpoint bottlenecks and an inconvenient layout.

“It’s just a huge impact and we’re very proud of the progress that we’ve made on this project as well as the impact we’re having on the community,” Paul Hoback, the Allegheny County Airport Authority's executive vice president and chief development officer, said Monday during a tour of the facility.

Hoback said the project should meet the number one priority of providing stable and predictable airline costs, but it also will greatly enhance the passenger experience.

There's plenty of evidence to support that claim. The new terminal boasts aesthetically pleasing faux wood ceilings and constellation lighting. There is a large space where people can wait to pick up family members or friends. There will be eateries and shops. The plaza areas will be adorned with Western Pennsylvania native plants.

While travelers may appreciate all of those features, many probably will be most pleased that passing through security should be a breeze compared to what it is now.

“We’re going to have all new equipment, which means passengers won’t have to take out their liquids from their bags," Hoback said. "They won’t have to take out their laptops and iPads. Just leave everything in the bag and zip right through."

The high-maintenance, high-cost tram used to connect the existing Landside Terminal with the Airside Terminal is being retired. Instead, passengers will enter the Airside Terminal via a 140-foot-long tunnel.

Outside the terminal you'll find a customer service center and a massive new garage with about 3,500 public spaces, as well as additional surface parking.

As for the soon-to-be vacated terminal, Hoback said there are no plans to demolish it. The authority is actively looking for a tenant for the building.