Pittsburgh airport sees flight disruptions abating in time for new terminal opening

Pittsburgh International Airport officials expect flight cancellations and delays caused by the government shutdown, which ended Wednesday, to taper off in time for the new terminal’s opening Tuesday.

Flight reductions ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration at 40 airports — not including Pittsburgh’s — remain in place and have had ripple effects locally.

Disruptions at Pittsburgh International Airport peaked over the weekend as about 10% of the 300 daily flights were cancelled because of the federal restrictions and many more delayed, according to Bob Kerlik, an airport spokesman.

Prior to that, it was mostly business as usual at the airport, even as travelers elsewhere saw short flights stretch into all-day affairs.

“We are lucky in Pittsburgh, comparatively,” Kerlik said Thursday during a tour of the new terminal’s parking setup.

As of about 1 p.m,. the airport had seen only three shutdown-related cancellations that day.

Executives with American Airlines, Delta and other carriers warn the wider system could take several days to stabilize.

Before a deal to reopen the federal government appeared in sight, flight disruptions during the busy Thanksgiving travel season looked to be a real possibility.

After President Donald Trump signed a funding deal into law Wednesday night, Pittsburgh International Airport officials can be more confident congressional gridlock won’t spoil the opening of their $1.7 billion terminal.

Joe Rotterdam, director of air service development for the airport, said between 20,000 and 25,000 passengers are expected to use the terminal Tuesday.

That number will swell on the Wednesday and Sunday bracketing Thanksgiving, with the latter shaping up to be one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Where to park

With shutdown-related snags receding, Rotterdam can instead focus on last-minute touches to a new parking garage and lot as well as an updated shuttle system.

The five-floor garage features more than 3,200 public spaces (the first floor is reserved for rentals) and technology to simplify the parking process.

Drivers can look at signs showing how many spots are available on each floor and, once they’re there, keep an eye out for lights above each space. Green signals an open spot and blue a vacant handicap spot. No light means occupied.

The top floor, which does not have a roof, has what airport officials described as “eco-friendly snow-melt technology.”

The garage is connected to the terminal by a short, fully covered passageway where travelers can take their pick of eight car rental companies.

A new lot with more than 2,800 spaces is being described by airport officials as the “fastest, most convenient” parking option. It’s also a short walk to the terminal.

Parts of the existing economy, extended and long-term lots have been combined to make a shuttle lot, a less-expensive option that requires a roughly 10-minute ride to the terminal. It has upwards of 8,000 spaces, with the capacity to add more during peak demand seasons.

Daily parking costs across these options range between $8 and $35, plus tax.

Travelers confused with parking or other aspects of the new terminal can expect to see a higher-than-usual number of staff available to assist them.