Inside Pittsburgh’s Striking New $1.7 Billion Airport

In 1992, Pittsburgh International Airport opened a new 75-gate terminal, the country’s third-largest terminal at the time, to accommodate booming demand. It was hailed as the “airport of the future” and would serve as a major hub for US Airways. But after US Airways abandoned its hub in 2004 (and later merged with American Airlines), traffic at Pittsburgh International declined significantly, leading the airport authority to close off parts of the terminal to sit empty. Now, after two decades, Pittsburgh has finally right-sized its airport with a new, state-of-the-art facility that travelers are already raving about. Here’s a look inside the new Pittsburgh International Airport and how it redefines travel through the region.

A Transformed Experience

Say goodbye to the old Pittsburgh Airport: Upon getting dropped off at the new terminal, which opened to the public in November 2025, the first thing travelers will likely notice is the soaring ceiling made with locally sourced wood. The staggered peaks of the ceiling design evoke the Allegheny Mountains, with supporting columns that resemble tree branches and hundreds of lights that mimic stars in the night sky. 

If you’ve traveled through Pittsburgh Airport in the past, you may remember having to board a tram after check-in to reach the boarding gates. Now, travelers can enjoy a short walk to the TSA security checkpoint — which has been expanded to include 12 lanes with the latest screening technology — before entering a tunnel down to the gates. Named the “Skybridge,” it’s inspired by the famous entrance to downtown Pittsburgh upon emerging from the Fort Pitt Tunnel onto the Fort Pitt Bridge.

The airport authority says that the new design reduces the time it takes to get from the curb to the boarding gates by 50%, which should be welcome news for travelers. Elsewhere, you’ll find a host of other passenger-friendly features, from the four outdoor areas (pre- and post-security) to nursing rooms, sensory-friendly zones, expanded seating at boarding gates, and new, larger baggage claim carousels. (The time it takes for luggage to reach the claim is also reduced by 3 miles.) 

Groundbreaking for the project took place in late 2021, and it cost an estimated $1.7 billion to complete. Designed by the architectural firm Gensler along with HDR and luis vidal + architects, the 811,000-square-foot terminal and its new 1.1 million-square-foot parking garage are designed to handle passenger projections for the next 40 years, and can handle up to 15 million passengers annually. 

Local Influences

One of the most notable aspects of the new Pittsburgh International Airport is its sense of place — a trend we’ve been seeing in other recent U.S. airport redesigns, like New York’s LaGuardia Airport and the new Portland International Airport. From the look and feel of the Allegheny Mountains as you enter the terminal building to the local food vendors and hometown artists showcased throughout, there’s no mistaking you’re in western Pennsylvania as you transit through the new airport.

For food options, there are 15 new concessions — a mix of national chains like Shake Shack and local and regional favorites such as Primanti Bros. sandwiches, Café Conmigo, and Beercode Kitchen and Bar. 

Local art is also integrated throughout the terminal, with over 80% of the new airport’s art and cultural installations coming from local artists and artisans. Even the airport’s signage pays homage to the colors of Pittsburgh’s sports teams — outdoor signs have a white background with black lettering to match the away jerseys, while signs inside are black with the gold lettering of the home jerseys. (Pittsburgh is the only city in the country where all of its major professional sports teams share the same primary colors.)

As for the airport it replaces? The last flight to arrive was American Airlines Flight 1995 from Chicago shortly after midnight on November 18, 2025, and the old tram was decommissioned around 2:30 a.m. The future of the decommissioned building, which sits to the west of the new terminal, remains uncertain (the airport is in talks with developers), but in the meantime it’s clear that travelers will have plenty to look forward to at the new airport.