Pittsburgh International Airport

Yesterday, we celebrated the grand opening of Beercode. This gastropub-style restaurant is a new dining concept from Paradies Lagardère that originated in Italy and has only a handful of locations in U.S.-based airports. Some time has passed since the last concession opened at PIT. However, with Beercode now open, there will not be a long wait for new concessions afterward. Fifteen new concessions will open soon in addition to PIT’s new terminal. Read more about our new concessions here: https://lnkd.in/emJ77U4E

Last week, the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and some of the Chamber’s legacy members toured the new terminal under construction. It is always a pleasure to show local business leaders how the new Pittsburgh International Airport will transform the travel experience and boost the regional economy!

It's always exciting to see the latest drone video of our new terminal. A few noteworthy updates: 🌳 Steel tree columns are starting to be painted ⭐ Wood constellation ceiling paneling being installed 🍁 Terrazzo flooring that includes artistic leaves "falling" from our tree columns being laid 🚗 New covered parking garage with thousands of spots

Last week, airport officials from around the country converged in Pittsburgh for the Northeast Chapter Hub Airports Winter Operations and Deicing Conference, hosted by PIT. One of the lead instructors for the snow academy during the conference was our own Jim Moorhead, who has 29 years of experience as a snowfighter. Gary Radford was also on PIT's snow team and participated in last week's sessions. He was recently named Operator of the Year Medium Hub Airport by the International Aviation Snow Symposium, Northeast Chapter, American Association of Airport Executives (NEC/AAAE). Northeast Chapter – AAAE. Read more about the science of snow removal and conference takeaways here: https://lnkd.in/evk8QAbY

Following an extensive review of customer preferences, Southwest Airlines announced it will assign seats and offer premium seating options on all flights starting in 2025. Read more about this significant change here: https://lnkd.in/ea6cbi3U

Disability Pride Month is here; we want to celebrate it with words and actions. At PIT, we have a history of supporting this community in innovative and meaningful ways, including: 💜 Presley’s Place—a first-of-its-kind sensory-friendly space where travelers with special needs can decompress while traveling and get acclimated to flying inside a plane cabin before boarding. 🌻 Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program—anyone traveling with an invisible disability can choose to wear the Sunflower as a discreet way to indicate to our airport team that they may need additional support. ✈️ NavCog—an iPhone app for indoor navigation created specifically to help people with visual impairments. This app, developed by Carnegie Mellon University, benefits those unfamiliar with large, complex interior spaces. We want to keep raising the bar for people with disabilities as we celebrate this special month 🎉

HEADS UP‼️ TSA will have explosive detection canine teams at the PIT security checkpoints. The canine teams will enhance security and streamline the screening experience for passengers. When the canine teams operate, passengers will notice lane configuration changes at the checkpoint entrance. PIT is one of several airports nationwide where TSA has implemented canine teams. As part of the process, the dogs sniff the air currents surrounding travelers and their belongings as they pass by to detect anyone who may be carrying explosives. In doing so, the canine teams assist with the efficiency and effectiveness of TSA’s screening operations. If a dog alerts its handler to an explosive odor, the TSA follows an established procedure to resolve the alarm. These highly trained canines are an effective tool in deterring and detecting explosive devices.

Artist Clayton Merrell, who designed our current airside blue terrazzo flooring called The Sky Beneath Our Feet, visited the site recently to oversee his contribution to the terrazzo flooring design in our new airport terminal. He brought with him some sample ‘leaves’ that will eventually be placed in the terrazzo flooring under the structural tree columns in the terminal building. They will be flush with the floor and shaped like leaves that would fall from trees indigenous to the region. He designed them to be like “Easter eggs” that can help people slow their minds down once they see something from nature. This design feature is connected to the elements of NaTeCo, the design philosophy that guides the construction of the new terminal, which reflects the nature, technology and community of the Pittsburgh region.

CLEAR is now expanding services to offer TSA PreCheck sign-ups at its enrollment kiosks. The perk of having both TSA PreCheck and membership in CLEAR Plus means passengers do not have to remove shoes, belts and electronic equipment from bags. This TSA PreCheck sign-up option is open to all passengers. TSA PreCheck enrollment will also still be available on our ticketing level. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eFd9WQit

Around 1,000 trades workers are working on the new terminal, including some still learning their craft. Working on such a major project provides apprentices with valuable hands-on experience. Watch how this major project is launching careers and read more here: https://lnkd.in/eRViE8mE