Even as Pittsburgh International Airport prepares to embark on a $1.1 billion modernization, readers of one travel magazine seem to like the current set-up just fine.
Pittsburgh International ranked seventh among the top 10 domestic airports in Travel + Leisure magazine’s annual survey of readers.
According to the magazine, airports were rated on access, check-in/security, restaurants/bars, shopping and design.
In a brief summary accompanying the ratings, the magazine praised the Pittsburgh airport’s design and ease of navigation.
“You can feel the ambience of the city when you’re at Pittsburgh International Airport, according to one fan of the No. 7 spot,” the magazine reported.
“Unlike some other airports, where it’s tough to establish a sense of place, Pittsburgh’s arched windows, open spaces, and public art create a vibrant setting. The place is also easy to navigate, making catching connections a breeze.”
Readers ranked Portland International Airport in Oregon first.
The latest ranking comes as the Allegheny County Airport Authority, which operates Pittsburgh International, moves toward the start of a billion-dollar makeover that includes a new terminal for ticketing, security and baggage claim.
That terminal will replace the existing landside building now used for such purposes.
The project also calls for the elimination of the tram that carries travelers between landside and the airside building, which is used for getting on and off planes; a reduction in the number of gates from 75 to 51; a new 3,000-space parking garage; and $57.1 million in new roads.
“We’re certainly proud to have our airport ranked among the best,” airport authority spokesman Bob Kerlik said.
“That being said, we’re focused on making the region’s airport the most efficient and modern it can be for Pittsburgh passengers as well as airlines. That’s why the best parts of the facility will remain while we modernize the entire passenger experience.”
Authority officials, including CEO Christina Cassotis, have said the modernization is needed to right size a terminal that now is built around local travel demand as opposed to connecting traffic.
But the project has come under fire from Tasso Katselas, the architect of the midfield terminal, and state House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, both of whom have questioned its need.
They apparently aren’t the only ones with grievances about the remodeling.
A Change.org petition was launched three weeks ago to “Say NO to the Terminal Modernization Program for Pittsburgh International Airport.”
The person who started the petition, identified only as T H, is seeking 100 signatures to send to American Airlines CEO Doug Parker and Southwest Airlines. American and Southwest are the airport’s two largest carriers.
As of Monday evening, the petition had attracted only eight signatures. It argues that the modernization “does nothing to enhance the airline operations (e.g. no new gates, no new jet-bridges, no new ramp space). It builds a new portion of the terminal where no one wants to spend any extra time, pre-security.”
The petition also claims that “it makes no sense to spend over a billion dollars to save 400 million in preventative maintenance costs,” although it is unclear where the latter number comes from. Ms. Cassotis has said the new terminal will cut operating and maintenance costs by $20 million a year.
In addition, the petition stated the “cost per enplanement will remain where it is today or higher if we do this project, if we went with no terminal ‘right-sizing,’ the costs would drop dramatically for the airlines and make the cost to us passengers cheaper.” Enplanement refers to the process of boarding an aircraft.
Ms. Cassotis has said the per-passenger cost to the airlines, now at $11.30, should stay about the same “in 2017-2018 equivalents.”
Mr. Kerlik declined comment on the Change.org petition.
Mark Belko: mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.
First Published: July 16, 2019, 11:00 a.m.
Updated: July 16, 2019, 11:04 a.m.
