Our Review of Pittsburgh Airport (PIT)

Table of contents: Our Review of Pittsburgh Airport (PIT) Pros and Cons of Pittsburgh Airport (PIT) Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide) How we calculate On Time Performance Some Stats

Our Review of Pittsburgh Airport (PIT)

All the information featured on this page was compiled and written by David Enrich, a renowned expert in aviation and airport guides since 1999.

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Other Reviews (Google Reviews and Skytrax)

Overall Estimated Score: 3.5/5 (This is an estimate based on the general sentiment, not a precise average)

Summary of Reviews:

General Sentiment: Reviews for Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) are mixed, with recurring themes appearing in both positive and negative feedback.

Positive Aspects Highlighted:

Cleanliness: Many reviewers praise the airport’s cleanliness.
Ease of Navigation: A number of passengers find the airport easy to navigate, especially appreciating the train between terminals.
Friendliness of Staff: Some reviewers mention positive experiences with airport staff.
TSA Pre-Check: Efficient TSA pre-check lines are frequently mentioned.
Quiet Atmosphere: It has a generally calm and uncrowded feel compared to larger hubs.
Modern Design: Some appreciate the airport’s design and layout.
Good Selection of Shops and Restaurants: Reviewers often note a satisfactory range of dining and shopping options.

Negative Aspects Highlighted:

Limited Flight Options/High Prices: Many complaints center around a lack of direct flights and higher ticket prices compared to other airports. This is a recurring and significant issue.
Construction: Ongoing construction is frequently mentioned as causing inconvenience and noise.
Dated Feel in Some Areas: While some appreciate the design, others find parts of the airport outdated.
Inconsistent Staff Experiences: While some praise staff, others report negative interactions.
Lack of Amenities: Some feel it lacks certain amenities compared to other modern airports.
Walking distance: Some reviewers have highlighted the need for long walks
Cleanliness Some reviewers have criticised the cleanliness of the airport

Key Takeaways:

PIT is often seen as a convenient and relatively easy-to-use airport, especially when considering navigation and security.
The biggest pain points are related to flight availability and cost, reflecting its status as no longer being a major hub. Construction also impacts the experience.
While some find it modern and well-maintained, others feel parts are dated and lacking in amenities.

Important Considerations:

The reviews are subjective and reflect individual experiences.
The balance of positive and negative comments can shift over time.
The overall score is an estimation based on the general tone of the reviews.

To get a more precise rating, you would need to analyze a large sample of reviews and calculate an average numerical score, but this summary captures the general public perception.

Pros and Cons of Pittsburgh Airport (PIT)

Pros

Strategic Location: The airport is located just 15 km west of downtown Pittsburgh, making it convenient for travelers.
Modern Facilities: A massive $1 billion reconstruction and expansion was completed in 1992, making it one of the most innovative airports in the world at the time.
Efficient Design: Its X-shaped layout reduces the distance between gates, and it features an underground tram to transport passengers, enhancing the travel experience.
Recent Growth: In the 2010s, the airport experienced a resurgence, doubling the number of airlines to 16.
Accessibility: Since 2017, it has allowed post-security access to the terminal for non-flying passengers, being the first in the U.S. to do so after September 11.

Cons:

Loss of Major Hub: US Airways abandoned the airport as its connecting hub in 2004, eliminating thousands of jobs and significantly impacting the airport.
Reduced Traffic: Passenger traffic reached a peak of 20 million in the late 1990s but has decreased substantially since then.
Regional Competition: It is only the second busiest airport in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia International Airport.
Need for Renovation: In 2017, plans for a $1.1 billion renovation were announced, suggesting that current facilities require significant improvements.
Dependence on a Primary Airline: Although it is no longer a hub, American Airlines (formerly US Airways) remains the largest airline at PIT, which could make the airport vulnerable to changes in this company’s strategies.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Here’s a 2-minute summary of the most important aspects of Pittsburgh International Airport:

Pittsburgh International Airport is a major air transportation hub in Pennsylvania, USA. Key points include:

Location: Situated 15 km west of downtown Pittsburgh, serving the metropolitan area.
Size and traffic: It’s the second busiest airport in Pennsylvania, handling 9,945,601 passengers in 2024.
Facilities: Features two main terminals (Landside and Airside) connected by an automated underground train.
Runways: Has four runways, including one of Pennsylvania’s longest at 3,510 meters.
History: Opened in 1952, underwent major expansion in 1992, becoming a hub for US Airways.
Innovation: Once considered the "airport of the future" for its X-shaped design and internal transport system.
Airlines: Currently serves 16 airlines, with American Airlines as the largest carrier.
Accessibility: Since 2017, allows post-security access to non-passengers, pioneering this practice.
Renovation: A $1.1 billion renovation plan was announced in 2017, including a new terminal.
Services: Offers various passenger amenities, including shops, restaurants, and a connected Hyatt Regency hotel.

This summary highlights the importance, history, and main features of Pittsburgh International Airport, showcasing its role in regional and national air travel.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation