The long wait is almost over. New Pittsburgh International Airport terminal close to opening

Airport officials have not announced an official date yet, but have promised it will be before Thanksgiving travel. A sneak peek of the terminal was given Oct. 10 to several thousand selected members of the public to great fanfare from those who attended.

FINDALY TWP. ― Just in time for the holidays and ahead of plans for many to travel to the city for April’s NFL draft, Pittsburgh International Airport is nearly ready to open up its new terminal.

Airport officials have not announced an official date yet, but have promised it will be before Thanksgiving travel. A sneak peek of the terminal was given Oct. 10 to several thousand selected members of the public to great fanfare from those who attended.

Getting through the airport has been disrupted at times over the last few years while work was underway on the $1.7 billion terminal modernization project. Travelers had to take some different paths to arrive at their airport destinations while getting around some construction areas. But that all is about to change.

How big is the new terminal?

The new 811,000-square-foot terminal will streamline the traveler experience, highlight Western Pennsylvania’s world-class art and innovation, and serve as a beautiful new gateway welcoming visitors from across the country and around the world, leaders have said.

Added security lines, more parking spots

The new facility cuts down passenger travel time by 50 percent, features 12 state-of-the-art security lanes, 6,000 additional parking spaces, including a new parking structure with over 3,200 covered spaces, and incorporates art installations from local Western Pennsylvania artists throughout the terminal, according to a release from the airport. The project has created approximately 14,300 jobs and generated an estimated $2.5 billion in regional economic activity, extending the life of the airport by 40 years, the release said.

“Pittsburgh is on the rise – from events like the NFL Draft in 2026 to groundbreaking innovation in tech and life sciences – and the new Pittsburgh International Airport terminal is going to open the door to even more growth and opportunity,” saidGov. Josh Shapiro at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 10. 

“This project has created thousands of jobs and cut fuel costs for airlines, and it will streamline the airport experience for the millions of travelers who pass through PIT every year. Pittsburgh’s new terminal will serve as the gateway to a region on the rise – and coupled with our historic investments in Downtown, we’re working to deliver real results all across Western Pennsylvania for years to come,” he added.

Project will finish before 2026 NFL Draft

Shapiro said the new terminal also positions Pittsburgh to shine on the world stage next year as the city prepares to host the 2026 NFL Draft, which is expected to draw up to 700,000 visitors and generate up to $213 million in economic impact for the region.

“Transportation is about people, and the improvements that we’re celebrating today show us that the Pittsburgh International Airport is putting its passengers first, ” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll at the ribbon-cutting. “At PennDOT, we’re proud of our investments in PIT, and we congratulate them on this incredible accomplishment.”

“In today’s global economy, improving connectivity is critical for supporting economic growth, and we are thrilled to see this new terminal open at PIT,” said Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger at the event. “This new terminal will ensure that PIT is able to support its growth for decades to come.”