Pittsburgh International ranks 7th on Travel & Leisure list of best U.S. airports

Readers of Travel & Leisure magazine rated Pittsburgh International Airport as the nation’s seventh-best airport, according to a survey published Wednesday.

The Findlay Township airport dropped two spots from 2018, when it ranked fifth in the annual rankings, according to the magazine.

Airports were rated in terms of access, check-in/security, restaurants and bars, shopping and design.

“You can feel the ambience of the city when you’re at Pittsburgh International Airport,” one of the people surveyed told Travel & Leisure.

We’re certainly proud to have our airport ranked among the best,” said airport spokesman Bob Kerlik. “That being said, we’re focused on making the region’s airport the most efficient and modern 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.

“We’re focused on making the airport inclusive for all with amenities like a Sensory Room opening later this month, new apps and technology for people with disabilities, and our myPITpass program, which was the first in the country to allow the general public past security for shopping, dining and greeting loved ones.”

The airport’s position in future rankings could improve as work begins soon on a new $1.1 billion landside terminal that is expected to open in 2023. Construction is expected to begin later this year and officials say the new design will improve travelers’ first impression of Pittsburgh.

In September, the airport also came in seventh on the J.D. Power 2018 North America Airport Satisfaction Study.