Pittsburgh International Airport to undergo US$1.1bn modernization program

Allegheny County Airport Authority has approved details of the modernization plan for the 25-year-old Pittsburgh International Airport, which will include a new landside terminal and elimination of the tram system. Details of the plan were unveiled September 12.
The funding will be nontaxpayer based and instead sourced through airport revenue on both airline and passenger sides, as well as through possible bond issuances.
The old landside terminal is to be demolished and a new landside terminal will be located next to the current airside terminal. The airside terminal is to have 51 gates, which is 24 less than the current landside terminal, though this number is actually 12 more than the airport uses at any one time.
A new international arrivals process will also be a feature of the new terminal, together with improved technology and baggage deliver upgrades.
Christina Cassotis, Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO stated that: “We have spent the last three years looking at everything we can do out here to make this the most operationally efficient, safe, secure and exciting airport, and to get us back into that position of leadership in the industry. We have to meet the changing needs of today’s airlines, our passengers, the industry, and this is the type of forward thinking that you’re going to see as we unveil this.”
2019 will likely see breaking ground on the project, and completion is expected for 2023. In the meantime, the airport will operate as usual, as will the tram system, which costs approximately US$3 million to run on an annual basis.