The airport underwent a massive $1 billion rebuilding and expansion that was largely designed to US Airways' specification so it could become one of their major hubs.

US Air declared chapter 11 bankruptcy twice in a row, and abandoned Pittsburgh as a hub in 2004, eliminating thousands of jobs and nearly bankrupting the airport itself, which was built largely to suit US Airways' needs.

[15] In 2017, the airport became the first in the country to reopen access to the post-security terminal for individuals who are not flying, as long as they can pass through security, after the federal government lifted restrictions put in place after 9/11.

[17] The airport is currently undergoing a $1.39 billion renovation[18] that will include a new terminal for check-in, security, and baggage claim adjacent to the gates.

The administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt was continuing to invest in infrastructure across the country in the waning years of the Great Depression, before the US entered World War II, which had started in 1939.

[26] The county bought the Bell Farm, and federal agencies began construction of the runways on 20 April 1942, after the US had entered the war.

The April 1957 Airline Guide shows 58 weekday departures on Capital, 54 TWA, 18 Allegheny, 8 United, 7 Eastern, 4 Northwest, 3 American and 2 Lake Central.

Then the September 11 attacks harmed the aviation industry, and US Air in particular, setting in motion the decline of Pittsburgh as a hub.

Numerous US Airways ticketing and customer service counters were abandoned, and 15 gates on Concourse A and B were sealed off from the rest of the airport.

[59] The closing of the US Airways hub allowed new low cost carriers to enter the market, creating more choices for local passengers.

Pittsburgh was the first airport (since 9/11) in the nation to allow non-passengers to pass through security to dine and shop in a post-security terminal.

Participants can sign up for myPITpass on the airport's website and must pass through the alternate security checkpoint before continuing through to the Airmall in the airside terminal.

A new landside building would be constructed between the airside terminal's concourses C and D, with new security and baggage facilities, a new international arrivals area, and many other amenities to serve passengers.

[76] In April 2020, however, airport officials decided to delay the selling of bonds and start of construction due to the coronavirus pandemic.

[77] In February 2021, airport officials announced early site and construction work would begin in spring 2021 with an increased budget of $1.39 billion.

[22][24] The airlines serving the airport agreed to fund $182 million in construction site preparation work for the project.

Because of the development of non-aviation related business on airport land, PIT can add only one more runway (this number was as high as four in the past).

[86] After passing through the security checkpoint, passengers board one of two underground people movers that travel to the Airside Terminal, where all departure gates are located.

All international arrivals, except for cities with United States border preclearance, pass through Concourse C. American Airlines has an Admirals Club on the mezzanine level of the airside terminal.

[91][92][93][94] There are regular parking shuttles to the Long Term and Extended lots that can be accessed from the Baggage Claim level of the Landside Terminal.

[95] Bus service is also available from Downtown Pittsburgh and the city's University District (Oakland) via the Port Authority of Allegheny County's 28X Route.

[99] Several new cargo carriers began service to Pittsburgh in 2020 and 2021, including Cathay Pacific, SpiceXpress, and Amazon Air.

[101] The world's leading caterer for air and business, LSG SkyChefs, in 2007 chose Pittsburgh as its sole Western Hemisphere manufacturing facility.

It expanded its customer service center on the cargo side of the airport by 20,000 square feet (1,900 m2) and now employs over 100 people with the capacity of making nearly 25 million meals per year for distribution to flights all over the Americas.

[102] LSG SkyChefs cited the region's strategic location for air and truck transport to major suppliers and customers, as well as the airport's excellent record in maintaining and expanding capacity.

The development will house a complete end-to-end supply chain allowing products to be manufactured and finished in one place and then shipped around the world from the airport.

The site is being developed as part of a partnership with the University of Pittsburgh and will have 1.4 million square feet of manufacturing and office space.

[110] A Hyatt Regency hotel is located onsite and is directly connected to the landside terminal via moving walkway.

As part of a pilot program, hotel guests were allowed access to the post-security shops and restaurants without an airline ticket as long as they could pass through security.

In 2017, airport officials opened post-security access to all non-flying persons who could pass through security, including hotel guests.