Annual 5K at Pittsburgh International Airport canceled amid renovations

An annual 5K race held at Pittsburgh International Airport has been canceled this year because of construction at the airport’s new terminal.

Event organizer P3R — best known for hosting the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon — announced the FlyBy 5K and 2-Mile Fun Run/Walk will take a one-year hiatus. The race is usually held in the early autumn.

The FlyBy 5K event gives participants a chance to run on the airport’s runway and see aircraft up close.

Held Sept. 21, 2024, last year’s race drew 1,800 runners and walkers, a record turnout, according to P3R.

“We’re already working with the Allegheny County Airport Authority to ensure the 2026 FlyBy 5K is worth the wait and delivers the same thrilling experience our runners know and love,” P3R CEO Troy Schooley said in a statement.

The airport’s $1.7 billion terminal modernization project includes a new 811,000-square-foot terminal and about 6,000 additional parking spots in a new garage and nearby lots. It aims to make the airport more efficient for travelers.

The landside terminal will now directly connect to the airside terminal through a pedestrian walkway. Baggage won’t travel as far as it does now, meaning it should arrive at the carousel quicker. The new terminal will have 12 security gates, food options and massive windows where people will be able to watch planes landing and taking off.

The FlyBy 5K, presented by CNX Resources, benefits the Allegheny County Airport Authority Charitable Foundation.

The race features a flat course along an airport taxiway and runway, plus aircraft displays and family-friendly activities.

It was canceled in 2020 because of the covid-19 pandemic.