THEIR TRAVEL PLANS. BUT IF YOU’RE WAITING A LITTLE BIT LONGER, HERE’S SOME THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND. THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND IS QUICKLY APPROACHING, AND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE EXPECTED TO TRAVEL TO CELEBRATE AMERICA. 250 THIS IS NO DIFFERENT FOR PEOPLE LEAVING OUT OF PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. WE’RE EXPECTING IT TO BE A REALLY BUSY HOLIDAY WEEKEND, WITH THE FOURTH FALLING ON A WEEKEND. THAT ALWAYS INCREASES THE NUMBERS WE’RE GOING TO SEE. WE’RE EXPECTING, I WOULDN’T SAY A RECORD NUMBER OF TRAVELERS, BUT A REALLY LARGE NUMBER OF TRAVELERS FLYING IN AND OUT OF THE AIRPORT THIS WEEKEND. THIS WEEKEND WILL BE ANOTHER TEST FOR THE NEW TERMINAL, WHICH, ACCORDING TO AIRPORT OFFICIALS, HAS PERFORMED WELL SO FAR. WE OPENED THE TERMINAL RIGHT BEFORE THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, AND NOW WE’VE GONE THROUGH SEVERAL HOLIDAYS THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS, THE SPRING BREAK, TRAVEL PERIOD. AND NOW HERE WE ARE WITH THE 4TH OF JULY, AND WE’VE BEEN REALLY EXCITED TO SEE HOW THE TERMINAL HAS PERFORMED, HOW THINGS LIKE THE BAGGAGE SYSTEM AND THE SECURITY CHECKPOINT HAVE PERFORMED. REGARDLESS, SOME TRAVELERS DECIDED TO GET THEIR TRAVELING OUT OF THE WAY EARLY. YEAH, WE WANTED TO BE HOME BEFORE THE 4TH OF JULY TO BEAT THE RUSH AND THEN BE HOME OVER THE FOURTH. BUT IF YOU’RE PLANNING ON TRAVELING THIS WEEKEND, HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP KICK OFF YOUR 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND. RIGHT. THE BEST OPPORTUNITY IS PRE-BOOK YOUR PARKING HERE AT THE AIRPORT. GET THE BEST RATES, GET YOUR SPOT SECURED SO YOU HAVE THAT TAKEN CARE OF AHEAD OF THE AIRPORT. WHEN YOU GET TO THE AIRPORT, GIVE YOURSELF AT LEAST TWO HOURS. GET HERE TWO HOURS EARLY. GIVE YOURSELF THAT OPPORTUNITY AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR DOCUMENTS WITH YOU. READY TO GO FOR THE TSA CHECKPOINT, AND THEN YOU’LL BE ON YOUR WAY, READY TO ENJOY YOUR VACATION. AIRPORT OFFICIALS SAY PREPARATIONS ARE GOING TO BE KEY TO MAKE SURE YOUR PLANS THIS WEEKEND WILL BE RUNNING AS SMOOTH AS POSSIBLE, SO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND. BUT FOR NOW
Millions expected to travel for 4th of July weekend; Pittsburgh airport expecting surge in passengers
Updated: 12:31 PM EDT Jun 30, 2026
More than 18 million people across the United States are expected to travel this Fourth of July weekend.Joe Rotterdam, vice president of air service development at Pittsburgh International Airport, said they are expecting a rush.”We’re expecting it to be a really busy holiday weekend. With the Fourth falling on a weekend, that always increases the numbers we’re going to see,” Rotterdam said. “We’re expecting, I wouldn’t say a record number of travelers, but a really large number of travelers flying in and out of the airport this weekend.”Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube ChannelIt will be another test for the airport’s new terminal, which officials say has performed well.”We opened the terminal right before the Thanksgiving holiday. We’ve gone through Thanksgiving, Christmas, the spring break travel period, and now, here we are with the Fourth of July, and we’ve been really excited to see how the terminal has performed, how things like the baggage system and the security checkpoint have performed,” Rotterdam said.Some travelers, like Amber Jean Hadjis, have chosen to travel early.”We wanted to be home before the Fourth of July to beat the rush, and then be home over the Fourth,” Hadjis said.For those planning to travel this weekend, Rotterdam shared advice to help passengers have a smooth experience. “The best opportunity is pre-book your parking here at the airport. Get the best rates, get your spot secured, so you have that taken care of ahead of the airport,” Rotterdam said. “When you get to the airport, give yourself at least two hours. Get here two hours early. Give yourself that opportunity to check in, make sure you have your documents with you ready to go for the TSA checkpoint, and then you’ll be on your way, ready to enjoy your vacation.”W2lmcmFtZSBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vaGVhcnN0dGVsZXZpc2lvbmRhdGFqb3VybmFsaXNtLmh0dmFwcHMuY29tL2p1bHk0LWludGVyYWN0aXZlL2hvdHRlc3RfanVseTRfYnlfemlwY29kZS5odG1sIiBzY3JvbGxpbmc9Im5vIiBmcmFtZWJvcmRlcj0iMCIgc3R5bGU9Im1pbi13aWR0aDogMTAwJSAhaW1wb3J0YW50OyBoZWlnaHQ6NzI1cHg7IiBdWy9pZnJhbWVdDownload the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
PITTSBURGH —
More than 18 million people across the United States are expected to travel this Fourth of July weekend.
Joe Rotterdam, vice president of air service development at Pittsburgh International Airport, said they are expecting a rush.
“We’re expecting it to be a really busy holiday weekend. With the Fourth falling on a weekend, that always increases the numbers we’re going to see,” Rotterdam said. “We’re expecting, I wouldn’t say a record number of travelers, but a really large number of travelers flying in and out of the airport this weekend.”
Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel
It will be another test for the airport’s new terminal, which officials say has performed well.
“We opened the terminal right before the Thanksgiving holiday. We’ve gone through Thanksgiving, Christmas, the spring break travel period, and now, here we are with the Fourth of July, and we’ve been really excited to see how the terminal has performed, how things like the baggage system and the security checkpoint have performed,” Rotterdam said.
Some travelers, like Amber Jean Hadjis, have chosen to travel early.
“We wanted to be home before the Fourth of July to beat the rush, and then be home over the Fourth,” Hadjis said.
For those planning to travel this weekend, Rotterdam shared advice to help passengers have a smooth experience.
“The best opportunity is pre-book your parking here at the airport. Get the best rates, get your spot secured, so you have that taken care of ahead of the airport,” Rotterdam said. “When you get to the airport, give yourself at least two hours. Get here two hours early. Give yourself that opportunity to check in, make sure you have your documents with you ready to go for the TSA checkpoint, and then you’ll be on your way, ready to enjoy your vacation.”
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