LOOK AT OTHER PARTS OF IT. IT WAS AN UNEXPECTED HONOR FOR THE PASSENGERS OF CREW OF UNITED 79 FOR SAN FRANCISCO TO PITTSBURGH. THEY WERE THE FIRST FLIGHT IN HERE TO THE NEW TERMINAL AND GOT TO EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING IT HAS TO OFFER. IT DOES LOOK A LOT BETTER, EASIER TO NAVIGATE. EVERYTHING’S NEW AND SHINY, SO I’M HAPPY TO BE HERE. WADE BARTON WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PASSENGERS TO HOP OFF HIS SAN FRANCISCO FLIGHT, WALKING INTO THE BRAND NEW TERMINAL. I THINK IT’S A LITTLE OVERWHELMING BECAUSE I JUST WOKE UP AFTER A FOUR HOUR FLIGHT, BUT IT’S A GOOD OVERWHELMING TO ACTUALLY SEE THE THE RENOVATIONS. AND I GUESS THE TIME AND MONEY THAT THEY PUT INTO THIS, THAT FLIGHT LANDED EARLY AT 5:00 THIS MORNING. THE BAGS CAME OUT JUST 15 MINUTES LATER ON THE STATE OF THE ART BAGGAGE SYSTEM, BAGGAGE CLAIM FEATURES EIGHT NEW CAROUSELS WITH A CONVEYOR BELT SYSTEM GOING FROM 8 TO 3 MILES LONG, SIGNIFICANTLY SHORTENING YOUR BAGGAGE WAIT TIME. SAN FRANCISCO PASSENGERS AND CREW MEMBERS WERE AMAZED WALKING INTO THE WELCOME POINT, SEEING EVERYTHING NEW AROUND THEM. I’VE ALWAYS LIKED THE PITTSBURGH AIRPORT BECAUSE THERE’S SO MUCH SHOPPING AND COMPARED TO OTHER AIRPORTS, I WAS TELLING HIM ON THE WAY IN, IT’S JUST THERE’S A LOT TO DO HERE. BUT NOW SEEING THIS, IT’S IT’S SUPERCHARGED. IT’S FANTASTIC. I THINK MAYBE COMING UP THE ESCALATORS AND SEEING THIS WIDE OPEN. YEAH. WOULD BE MINE. YOURS. IT’S VERY NICE. YEAH. LIKE THAT. AND THE RESTROOMS. BECAUSE YOU CAN WHEEL IN YOUR BAG AND YOU CAN STILL CLOSE THE DOOR. AND WHILE THE NEW DETAILS AND DESIGNS ARE STUNNING, WADE SAYS IT’S THE HISTORY FROM THE OLD TERMINAL THAT’S HIS FAVORITE. BRIGHT, SHINY, BRAND NEW. I’M EXCITED THEY KEPT THE DINOSAUR, THOUGH. THAT’S LIKE MY HIGHLIGHT OF THE PITTSBURGH AIRPORT. IT’S A BIG DINOSAUR ON THE WAY OUT, AND WE HAVE MUCH MORE INFORMATION ON THE NEW TERMINAL OVER ON OUR WEBSITE, WTAE.COM. FOR NOW, COVERIN
Pittsburgh’s new airport terminal opens: Flight from San Francisco first to use baggage claim
Updated: 3:07 PM EST Nov 18, 2025
It was a busy Tuesday morning at Pittsburgh International Airport with the opening of their new landside terminal.United Flight 794 from San Francisco landed early Tuesday morning and became the first to experience the new baggage claim area.Pittsburgh’s Action News 4’s Ava Rash was there as passengers picked up their bags. From landing to picking up baggage, the entire process took around 17 minutes.”It does look a lot better, easier to navigate, new and shiny, so I’m happy to be here,” said Wade Barton, of Morgantown, West Virginia.”I have always liked the Pittsburgh airport because there’s so much shopping compared to other airports. There’s a lot to do here. But now seeing this, it’s supercharged. It’s fantastic,” said United Capt. William Westfall.The track for baggage has gone from eight miles at the old terminal to only three, cutting down the time it gets back to passengers.Many passengers we spoke to from the area said the new airport is magical to see, especially the ceiling which mimics stars and constellations.”Coming up the escalators and seeing this wide open. And the restrooms, because you can wheel in your bag and you can still close the door,” said Renee Illes, of Ohio Township.”I’m excited they kept the dinosaur. That’s like my highlight of the Pittsburgh airport, the big dinosaur on the way out,” said Barton.Want to learn more about the new airport? Click here.
PITTSBURGH —
It was a busy Tuesday morning at Pittsburgh International Airport with the opening of their new landside terminal.
United Flight 794 from San Francisco landed early Tuesday morning and became the first to experience the new baggage claim area.
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4’s Ava Rash was there as passengers picked up their bags. From landing to picking up baggage, the entire process took around 17 minutes.
“It does look a lot better, easier to navigate, new and shiny, so I’m happy to be here,” said Wade Barton, of Morgantown, West Virginia.
“I have always liked the Pittsburgh airport because there’s so much shopping compared to other airports. There’s a lot to do here. But now seeing this, it’s supercharged. It’s fantastic,” said United Capt. William Westfall.
The track for baggage has gone from eight miles at the old terminal to only three, cutting down the time it gets back to passengers.
Many passengers we spoke to from the area said the new airport is magical to see, especially the ceiling which mimics stars and constellations.
“Coming up the escalators and seeing this wide open. And the restrooms, because you can wheel in your bag and you can still close the door,” said Renee Illes, of Ohio Township.
“I’m excited they kept the dinosaur. That’s like my highlight of the Pittsburgh airport, the big dinosaur on the way out,” said Barton.
Want to learn more about the new airport? Click here.