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Back in the early ’90s through the mid-aughts, Pittsburgh’s airport was a major hub for US Airways. When the airport was constructed in 1992, it was a revolutionary design built per US Airways’ specifications, and many airports around the country followed a similar design pattern. In 2004, when the airline started to downsize, it removed Pittsburgh as one of its major hubs and the airport never regained steam as a busy center for local and connecting travelers.
This week, a $1.1 billion project for construction of a new terminal was proposed to remedy the city’s lagging status as a former hub. The plan unveiled an up-to-date 51-gate “landside” terminal that would eliminate the need for the “people mover” train that passengers currently must utilize to move between existing terminals. The plans will modernize the airport that, since its inception, has been seen as faulty in recent years and does not meet current standards for the city’s modern-day needs.
The new terminal would be constructed between the C and D concourses, which are part of the current airside terminals. The existing landside terminal will be bid out for redevelopment and if there are no takers, it will be demolished during the construction of the new terminal. Currently, only 39 of the 75 gates are actively being used, and the new plans eliminate the unnecessary terminals. There would also be a new security area and baggage-claim system which are in need of improvements, according to a press release from the Pittsburgh International Airport.
Pittsburgh’s airport has seen a resurgence in recent years as a number of low-cost carriers like Southwest, JetBlue and Spirit helped to spur growth there. Additionally, several foreign airlines have recently announced direct flights; WOW Air will fly from Pittsburgh to its hub in Iceland and Germany’s Condor Airlines operates seasonal service from PIT to Frankfurt (FRA). This gave the city its first nonstop link to Germany since 2004, which is when US Airways de-hubbed the airport.
The goal of the new construction is to shift the once-major hub to a airport focused on local passengers. Construction could begin as early as 2019 and be completed by 2023.
H/T: USA Today
Source: thepointsguy.com