On Monday, travelers bid a final farewell to Pittsburgh International Airport as they know it ahead of the new terminal’s opening on Tuesday. “It’s very nostalgic,” said Squirrell Hill resident Mariasha Rosenblum.The first of the lasts started Monday evening when a British Airways flight from London Heathrow landed in Pittsburgh, in what was the final international arrival to the closing landside terminal, which opened in 1992. “I have many good memories here all these years at this beautiful airport,” said Dee Chronis, who flew home to Pittsburgh from North Carolina. Travelers flying to London on British Airways #170 were on the last departing international flight out of the terminal. “I’m just so used to it. It’s an old friend,” said Pittsburgh native Michael Costanzo ahead of his trip to London. Steven Campbell was also on the London-bound flight. “Today is actually my birthday so flying to London just for the sake of just going somewhere on it and yeah I didn’t think this would be aligning properly like the stars all aligned here but happy to be on the last flight,” Campbell told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. People stopped to take photos and videos of the airport they grew to know and love throughout the night. Elevator enthusiast Adam Lobo didn’t have a flight to catch but wanted to see the building one more time. “I go around the city filming elevators as a hobby and I’ve filmed the elevators here before but I’m getting one last video on each of the public ones here,” Lobo said. People made sure to take it all in as they passed through the terminal. “It’s going to be the sights and sounds you miss, the people pulling up outside,” said Chris Dellana, of Squirrell Hill. The “clickity clack” sound of suitcases rolling on the floor earned a special place in the hearts of Pittsburghers. Another point of nostalgia in the night was when passengers embarked on their last train ride. The mode of transportation between landside and airside terminals was a key part of the Pittsburgh travel experience in the old terminal. The train was deactivated at 2:30 a.m. Passengers at the new terminal will travel to and from the gates by foot. “I was feeling nostalgic being on the train because that’s our son, he’s 4, it’s his favorite thing in the airport,” said Natalie Stewart. Domestic flight Southern #239 carrying a few passengers to Dubois, Pennsylvania, was the last to depart from the terminal just before 10 pm. Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 was there when the TSA gate officially closed for good. A Delta flight from Atlanta was scheduled to be the last to arrive to the old terminal, however a delayed American Airlines flight from Chicago was the final flight of the night.
PITTSBURGH —
On Monday, travelers bid a final farewell to Pittsburgh International Airport as they know it ahead of the new terminal’s opening on Tuesday.
“It’s very nostalgic,” said Squirrell Hill resident Mariasha Rosenblum.
The first of the lasts started Monday evening when a British Airways flight from London Heathrow landed in Pittsburgh, in what was the final international arrival to the closing landside terminal, which opened in 1992.
“I have many good memories here all these years at this beautiful airport,” said Dee Chronis, who flew home to Pittsburgh from North Carolina.
Travelers flying to London on British Airways #170 were on the last departing international flight out of the terminal.
“I’m just so used to it. It’s an old friend,” said Pittsburgh native Michael Costanzo ahead of his trip to London.
Steven Campbell was also on the London-bound flight.
“Today is actually my birthday so flying to London just for the sake of just going somewhere on it and yeah I didn’t think this would be aligning properly like the stars all aligned here but happy to be on the last flight,” Campbell told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.
People stopped to take photos and videos of the airport they grew to know and love throughout the night.
Elevator enthusiast Adam Lobo didn’t have a flight to catch but wanted to see the building one more time.
“I go around the city filming elevators as a hobby and I’ve filmed the elevators here before but I’m getting one last video on each of the public ones here,” Lobo said.
People made sure to take it all in as they passed through the terminal.
“It’s going to be the sights and sounds you miss, the people pulling up outside,” said Chris Dellana, of Squirrell Hill.
The “clickity clack” sound of suitcases rolling on the floor earned a special place in the hearts of Pittsburghers.
Another point of nostalgia in the night was when passengers embarked on their last train ride.
The mode of transportation between landside and airside terminals was a key part of the Pittsburgh travel experience in the old terminal.
The train was deactivated at 2:30 a.m. Passengers at the new terminal will travel to and from the gates by foot.
“I was feeling nostalgic being on the train because that’s our son, he’s 4, it’s his favorite thing in the airport,” said Natalie Stewart.
Domestic flight Southern #239 carrying a few passengers to Dubois, Pennsylvania, was the last to depart from the terminal just before 10 pm.
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 was there when the TSA gate officially closed for good.
A Delta flight from Atlanta was scheduled to be the last to arrive to the old terminal, however a delayed American Airlines flight from Chicago was the final flight of the night.