PIT opens first public outdoor airport terrace
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Find winding paths, native plants and seating at PIT's new terrace. Photo: Chrissy Suttles/Axios
Pittsburgh International Airport's first outdoor terrace is open — putting PIT on a short list of U.S. airports with fresh-air amenities.
Zoom in: The first of four planned terraces blends native plants, walking paths and seating into a pre-security space where anyone, ticketed or not, can relax and watch planes ascend.
- Backed by the Richard King Mellon Foundation and UPMC, the 36,000-square-foot UPMC Terrace sits on the arrivals level of PIT's new landside terminal, just past Café Conmigo and the Visit Pittsburgh desk.
- The terrace will be open during airport hours (roughly 4am-12am) all year long — if winter patio season is your thing.
- You can eat and drink outside. Smoking isn't permitted.
What they're saying: Derek Davies, owner of Café Conmigo, expects the new gathering hub to translate into more sales, as travelers and airport greeters settle in on the terrace during layovers, when flights are delayed or to calm preflight jitters.
- "We've been asked, 'Can I go outside?' all the time since we've opened; I know I'll be out here," he told Axios at a Wednesday grand opening ceremony.
- Others wondered whether the green space could lure nostalgic locals back for coffee dates, echoing the days when PIT's AirMall drew hordes of non-ticketed shoppers.
The big picture: For years, outdoor airport decks were largely limited to regional airports and warmer destinations, including Honolulu and Palm Springs.
- Now, a growing number of major U.S. airports are carving out lookouts and patios as part of terminal expansions. They're becoming functional airport assets, helping reduce terminal crowding during peak times while giving travelers a place to decompress.
- PIT joins San Diego, Denver, JFK and a handful of other major airports embracing the outdoors, but it's among a select few (including San Francisco's SkyTerrace) with pre-TSA terraces accessible at no cost.
"You don't have to have club access or fly business class to be able to experience this beautiful space," said County Executive Sara Innamorato.
What's next: Three more terraces — one pre-security and two post-security — are still to come, but their timelines remain in flux as the airport puts the finishing touches on its internationally recognized $1.7 billion terminal.