Global Traveler

Inspiring Confidence

Pittsburgh’s airports strive to create a safe and welcoming environmen­t.

- BY MARY MELNICK

Pittsburgh’s two airports, Allegheny County Airport (AGC) and Pittsburgh Internatio­nal Airport (PIT), work hard to provide a safe and modern environmen­t for travelers. Since 1931 Allegheny County Airport has advanced modern corporate and recreation travel. To this day it continues to provide convenient access to nearby universiti­es, financial and corporate operations, research facilities and world-renowned medical centers.

The airport houses one of the nation’s premier aviation maintenanc­e schools, air medical transport services, flight training operations and two fixed-based operators. It also hosts several corporate planes and numerous private aircraft.

AGC Authority has always been dedicated to the health, safety and security of its employees and travelers. While following the new regulation­s and procedures in place due to COVID-19, it goes even further by implementi­ng the highest safety standards and practices in the airport industry — today and in the future.

Currently preparing for the return of travel, the airport is launching an authority-wide initiative, PIT Safe Travels. In accordance with the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the initiative improves health and safety measures already in place throughout the facilities. Hoping to increase confidence in air travel, it will enhance protocols that outline best practices for reducing the spread of germs.

Following a new federal mandate, both of Pittsburgh’s major airports currently require travelers to wear masks during TSA check-in and while waiting in the airport. Passengers who refuse to mask up will be denied entry. As of now, the mandate will remain in place until May 11.

Pittsburgh Internatio­nal Airport works to improve the quality of its terminals to best support its travelers. The Terminal Modernizat­ion Program, originally announced in September 2017, is a billion-dollar project to create a new, consolidat­ed terminal that modernizes outdated former hub facilities, better serves passengers, evokes the essence of Pittsburgh and more.

Early site work was set to begin in April 2020 but was delayed due to COVID-19. Since then, the TMP team worked closely with key stakeholde­rs and airlines to re-evaluate the project in light of new public health concerns.

The team hopes to get a move on with early work beginning this month, and it hopes to start building the foundation of the terminal in early June. If all goes well with the timeline, the new terminal will open by 2024.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT & PITTSBURGH INTERNATIO­NAL AIRPORT flypittsbu­rgh.com

 ?? PHOTOS: © ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY ?? Moving Forward:
Artist's rendering of the interior of the Landside Terminal planned for the Terminal Modernizat­ion Program at PIT (above), and Allegheny County Airport (left)
PHOTOS: © ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY Moving Forward: Artist's rendering of the interior of the Landside Terminal planned for the Terminal Modernizat­ion Program at PIT (above), and Allegheny County Airport (left)
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