2nd public trial added for Pittsburgh airport's new terminal

The Allegheny County Airport Authority said Wednesday it has added a second public trial of Pittsburgh International Airport’s new terminal to test systems and processes ahead of the official opening later this year.

The airport’s first public trial is scheduled for Sept. 20. Over 2,000 members of the public are expected to visit the terminal.

Airport officials will announce the date of the second trial within the next few weeks.

During the trials, participants will pretend to be passengers and move through the terminal and experienced the updated features. Participants will be required to follow travel regulations such as having a government-issued ID.

Afterward, volunteers will be asked to provide feedback to the team.

The $1.7 billion modernization project began in 2019 and is the first major renovation of the airport since it opened in 1992.

According to a news release, community members who were already confirmed for the first trial will receive an email with updated information on which trial they are assigned to attend.

Members of the public who were not initially selected will receive an email with a new registration opportunity.

“The addition of a second trial gives us the opportunity to have even more preparation and lessons learned for the airport team and our operational partners,” Daniel Bryan, head of Operational Readiness Activation and Transition, said.

The public trials are one of several events aimed at engaging the public for feedback.

Next month, Pittsburgh International Airport is holding a gala for partners and organizations involved in building the project and will give 10,000 people the chance at a first look at the terminal’s updated features as part of an open house.

The gala is scheduled for Oct. 3, and the open house is scheduled for Oct. 11.

Once the terminal opens for everyday use travelers can expect a quicker security experience, where no one will have to take off their shoes or take their computers or liquids out.

Passengers will also experience an updated interior in the send-off area, a new local coffee shop Cafe Conmigo of Wexford and a new sign and wayfinding system, designed for people with color blindness.