Latest news with #PaulHoback
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pittsburgh International Airport officials give inside look at new terminal before fall opening
The Pittsburgh International Airport offered a look inside its new terminal on Tuesday. Officials say construction, which began in October 2021, is almost complete. While heavy equipment still covers the floors and X-ray machines at the security checkpoint are still wrapped in plastic. The new three-level landside terminal will be ready to welcome travelers from around the world in a few short months. 'We're about 90 percent complete with construction today. I can tell you we have about 2 or 3 percent more to go until we hit opening day later this fall,' said Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer of the Allegheny County Airport Authority Paul Hoback. Channel 11 got a look inside the $1.7 billion terminal, which drew a lot of inspiration from the city it serves. 'It's designed to represent Pittsburgh. The elements of nature, technology and that sense of community that we have here in the Pittsburgh region,' Hoback said. That includes the connection between the new landside terminal and the existing airside terminal, dubbed the 'Fort Pitt Tunnel.' 'You're going to walk through the airside core and out is going to open up those 20-something new concessions that we're putting in the airside core and you're going to see that our airside core -- the square footage is identical to Market Square,' said Hoback. The rolling hills and forests of Western Pennsylvania also influenced the terminal's design. 'You can see a lot of the nature in this space right now. The wood-like ceiling. The tree branches and tree columns that are meant to look like trees and each one of the branches come up at a little bit of different height like we're in the woods of the western Pennsylvania region,' said Hoback. Most of the construction is expected to wap up by this summer but the airport says it plans to do several months of testing before it fully opens to the public this fall. 'Passengers, it's going to be beautiful and it's going to be easier and we can't wait to show it to you,' CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority Christina Cassotis said. Pittsburgh International Airport is showcasing the new terminal to airport and airline officials from around the world. The terminal hosted the opening night reception, 'The Future Travel Experience World Innovations Summit,' on Tuesday evening. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
CBS News
13-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Construction of Pittsburgh International Airport terminal reaches "90 percent" completion
Pittsburgh International Airport's new terminal is 90 percent complete, officials said on Tuesday during a tour. The clock is ticking on the $1.5 billion project, which is scheduled to open later this year. Construction on the project began in July 2021, with the goal of modernizing the airport, making it more efficient and improving the passenger experience. The project includes a new landslide terminal, updated roadways, expanded parking garages and a new baggage system. There will also be a tunnel connecting the landslide and airside terminals, bringing everything closer together. The old terminal was built in the 1980s for 30 million passengers a year, many of whom were connecting passengers. But today, the airport sees just about 10 million passengers a year, and the overwhelming majority are starting and ending their journey in Pittsburgh. "We're oversized," said Paul Hoback, executive vice president of the Allegheny County Airport Authority. "So, this project has always been about right-sizing the airport and modernizing. We actually need to grow our landslide terminal functions. So, security, baggage claim and ticketing because we have a lot more of those origin and destination passengers." Design-wise, the inspiration came from western Pennsylvania's rolling hills, and the ceiling and columns are shaped like tree branches. It's all part of nature, technology and community inspired by Pittsburgh. Security is also getting an upgrade, with a new 12-lane checkpoint with technology that lets passengers keep liquids and laptops in their bags. Plus, automated bin returns will make the whole process smoother. And for those who like to kick back and relax, there will be over 20 new concessions to enjoy.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Modernization program to provide better experience at Pittsburgh airport
(WKBN) — A modernization program at the Pittsburgh International Airport is nearly done, promising shorter lines, smoother travel and an overall better experience. The new Pittsburgh International Airport is about 80 percent complete. It has been a 5-year process but those with the airport feel confident it'll be open this fall. 'It is designed to have much-improved wait times than our existing terminal,' said Chief Development Officer Paul Hoback Hoback has been on the project since it started and led a tour Monday of the new facility which will be transformed with triple the amount of covered parking, new baggage claim and handling systems, and a bigger, more streamlined space. 'We're going to have all new equipment — all of the latest and greatest which means our passengers won't have to take out their liquids from their bags. They won't have to take out their laptops and iPads and things like that. Just leave everything in the bag and zip right through,' Hoback said. It's a sign of changing times in Pittsburgh as the trend has shifted away from the airport as a layover. Now more than 98 percent of passengers start or end their journeys in the city. The new design and tunnel system will eliminate the need for the current people mover system, saving money in the long run. They're accounting for aesthetics as well with wood-like ceilings, constellation lighting and even outdoor spaces that will be landscaped in western Pennsylvania native plants. There will also be a large area for families to pick up their loved ones, a new connector bridge to link passengers to the remaining airside terminal, and new restaurants and shops. But it takes a whole region to make the project happen. All the construction employees are from the tri-state area, including Ohio. 'All of the products here on the project site are from the region. We have all of our glass is made in Ohio, half of our precast for all of the garage is made in Ohio. So it's a significant project. It takes an entire region to build a project like this,' said Hoback. 'It provides jobs, it provides economic drivers for the regions of the tri-state area and we're really excited about that… We've seen about $2.5 billion in economic generation out as a result of this project and more than 14,000 jobs,' said Director of Public Affairs Bob Kerlik. It's a project those with the airport say is much-needed as current passengers face small security checkpoints, long lines and breaking technology in the current 33-year-old space. When the new Pittsburgh International Airport opens, officials are confident that will all change. 'It's just a huge impact and we're very proud of the progress that we've made on this project as well as the impact we're having on the community,' Hoback said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
