Pittsburgh Airport: What County Does It Serve?

Pittsburgh International Airport (IATA: PIT, ICAO: KPIT, FAA LID: PIT) is located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The airport is about 10 miles (15 km) west of downtown Pittsburgh and is the primary international airport serving the Greater Pittsburgh Region. In this article, we will explore the history, facilities, and operations of Pittsburgh International Airport, as well as its impact on the region's economy and transportation network.

Allegheny County Airport Authority

The Allegheny County Airport Authority manages the Pittsburgh International Airport (IATA: PIT, ICAO: KPIT, FAA LID: PIT) and the Allegheny County Airport (AGC). The airport is a civil-military international airport in Findlay Township and Moon Township, Pennsylvania, about 10 miles (15 km) west of downtown Pittsburgh. It is the primary international airport serving the Greater Pittsburgh Region, as well as adjacent areas in West Virginia and Ohio. The airport is owned and operated by the Allegheny County Airport Authority and offers passenger flights to destinations throughout North America and Europe.

Pittsburgh International Airport was originally known as Greater Pittsburgh Airport and later as Greater Pittsburgh International Airport. It first opened in 1952 and was initially served by five airlines. In its first full year of operation in 1953, over 1.4 million passengers used the terminal. The airport was considered modern and spacious and was the largest in the United States, second only to Idlewild Airport (now JFK Airport) in New York.

The Allegheny County Airport Authority has been actively pursuing airlines and lobbying for new passenger routes, which has resulted in a resurgence of the airport in the 2010s. The number of carriers has doubled to 16, and Southwest Airlines has become the largest carrier in terms of passengers. The Authority announced a $1.1 billion plan in September 2017 to renovate and reconfigure the terminal complex, including a new landside terminal and a new parking garage.

The Pittsburgh airport has also been at the forefront of adopting new technology. It was one of the first airports in the United States to implement the TSA's Credential Authentication Technology, which eliminates the need for boarding passes at security checkpoints and instead verifies passengers based on their government-issued ID. During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the airport allowed American Airlines and Republic Airways to park nearly 100 planes on its expansive tarmac.

The airport's history

Pittsburgh International Airport (IATA: PIT, ICAO: KPIT, FAA LID: PIT) is a civil-military international airport in Findlay Township and Moon Township, Pennsylvania, United States. It is about 10 miles (15 km) west of downtown Pittsburgh and is the primary international airport serving the Greater Pittsburgh Region, as well as adjacent areas in West Virginia and Ohio. The airport is owned and operated by the Allegheny County Airport Authority and offers passenger flights to destinations throughout North America and Europe.

Pittsburgh International Airport, originally named Greater Pittsburgh Airport, was first opened in 1952. The airport was initially served by five airlines and became a small hub for Trans World Airlines for over two decades. In its first full year of operation in 1953, more than 1.4 million passengers used the terminal. The airport was considered modern and spacious and was the largest in the United States, second only to Idlewild Airport (now JFK Airport) in New York.

In 1991, over 40,000 people packed the airport to greet the Pittsburgh Penguins when they landed after winning their first Stanley Cup championship. The following year, the airport underwent a massive $1 billion rebuilding and expansion, becoming one of the most innovative in the world. The New York Times dubbed it the "airport of the future", praising its unique design and advanced technology. The airport helped pioneer modern airport design with its X-shape, which reduced the distance between gates, and its underground tram to transport passengers.

In the early 2000s, the airport suffered a setback when US Air, which had a major hub at the airport, declared bankruptcy and abandoned Pittsburgh as a hub, eliminating thousands of jobs. However, the airport experienced a resurgence in the 2010s, doubling the number of carriers to 16 as the Allegheny County Airport Authority successfully courted new airlines. In 2017, the Airport Authority announced a $1.1 billion plan to renovate and reconfigure the terminal complex, including a new landside terminal and a new parking garage. The ongoing renovation will create a new terminal for check-in, security, and baggage claim, improving the airport's functionality and increasing the number of parking spaces.

Airlines that use Pittsburgh Airport

Pittsburgh International Airport (IATA: PIT, ICAO: KPIT, FAA LID: PIT) is located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, about 10 miles (15 km) west of downtown Pittsburgh. The airport is a civil-military airport, owned and operated by the Allegheny County Airport Authority. Pittsburgh Airport offers passenger flights to 63 destinations with 15 airlines across North America and Europe.

The airport initially opened in 1952, with five airlines operating out of the airport, including Trans World Airlines, which used the airport as a hub for over two decades. In 2004, US Airways, which had a hub at the airport, filed for bankruptcy and abandoned Pittsburgh as a hub, which opened the door for other airlines to expand their operations and better serve local passengers. The Allegheny County Airport Authority has aggressively pursued new airlines and lobbied for new passenger routes, resulting in a resurgence of the airport in the 2010s, with the number of carriers doubling to 16.

Today, Pittsburgh International Airport is served by a variety of commercial airlines, including major carriers such as American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. American Airlines is the largest airline at the airport in terms of the number of departures, with around 238 scheduled take-offs every week. Southwest Airlines has also increased its presence at the airport in recent years, overtaking American Airlines as the largest carrier in terms of passengers. Other airlines that serve Pittsburgh Airport include Frontier Airlines, Icelandair, and Southern Airways Express, a regional carrier that uses the airport as a hub.

In addition to passenger flights, Pittsburgh International Airport also handles cargo operations for several airlines and delivery companies, including Amazon Air, FedEx, and UPS. The airport has also been used for plane parking during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, accommodating nearly 100 planes from American Airlines and Republic Airways.

The airport's sustainability efforts

Pittsburgh International Airport (IATA: PIT, ICAO: KPIT, FAA LID: PIT) is located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, about 10 miles (15 km) west of downtown Pittsburgh. The airport is owned and operated by the Allegheny County Airport Authority.

Pittsburgh International Airport has been recognised for its sustainability efforts, being named the Environmental Sustainability Airport of the Year by the Centre for Aviation (CAPA) in 2023. The airport has implemented several initiatives and programs to reduce its environmental impact and contribute to a sustainable future.

One of its notable achievements is the development of a microgrid, which will make Pittsburgh International the first major U.S. airport to be entirely powered by one. This microgrid will be fuelled by a combination of the airport's own natural gas wells drilled on-site and solar energy generated by 8,000 solar panels across eight acres of land.

The airport is also committed to reducing waste and has implemented programs to manage and recycle spent aircraft de-icing fluid, saving more than 150 million gallons since 1998. Additionally, they have partnered with 412 Food Rescue, a Pittsburgh-based food recovery organisation, to reduce food waste and provide meals for the local community.

Pittsburgh International Airport is also focused on sustainable fuel development, with a goal to produce hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on-site to reduce emissions in the aviation industry. The airport is undergoing a billion-dollar terminal modernisation program, which includes plans for a LEED Gold-certified facility with energy efficiencies and rainwater recycling capabilities.

Furthermore, the airport is supporting the declining honeybee population by maintaining an apiary program on its property, providing a sanctuary for honeybees across dozens of bee colonies and more than 8,800 acres of land. The airport also encourages community service activities, such as clean-up projects, water quality improvement initiatives, and participation in volunteer events like "Plant a Tree at Flight 93".

The airport's future plans

Pittsburgh International Airport (IATA: PIT, ICAO: KPIT, FAA LID: PIT) is located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The airport has been undergoing various construction projects to modernize and improve the passenger experience.

In addition to the terminal modernization, the airport is also constructing a new Customer Service Building, which will house rental car counters and provide easy access between the new parking garage and the terminal. The art program has been integrated into the design of the new airport, with steel sculptures by artist Patrick Marold installed in front of the new terminal and in the Customer Service Building. The airport has also implemented a new TSA system called Credential Authentication Technology, which verifies passengers using government-issued IDs instead of boarding passes, enhancing security and efficiency.

The Allegheny County Airport Authority has been aggressively courting airlines and lobbying for new passenger routes, resulting in an increase in carriers from 8 to 16. This resurgence has allowed the airport to better serve local Pittsburgh-area passengers and expand its operations. With these future plans and improvements, the Pittsburgh International Airport is shaping a better airport experience for all, reflecting and serving its community while advancing its role in the aviation industry.

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