Travelers flying out of Pittsburgh International Airport during the early hours might need to set their alarms earlier than usual. The airport has advised that passengers with flights scheduled between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. should arrive up to three hours in advance to ensure they navigate through security checks in time for their flights. This recommendation comes in response to "record-breaking crowds this summer," as stated by airport officials. WTRF reported the airport is working with the TSA to "streamline the security process as much as possible."
Bob Kerlik, a spokesperson for the airport, mentioned that the early morning rush has always posed a challenge, but the increase in passenger traffic this year is pushing it to new heights. Specifically, a 10% increase in May's passenger numbers compared to the same month last year was observed. Kerlik told TribLive, "Early morning is always the busiest time, but it is even more busy right now," referencing the spike in summer travel. The trend is likely to continue, with TSA projecting to possibly break even more records during the Independence Day holiday period.
On a national scale, TSA screened nearly 3 million travelers in the past Sunday alone, breaking the prior daily record. TSA Administrator David Pekoske highlighted the surge in a news release, stating, "We expect this summer to be our busiest ever, and summer travel usually peaks over the Independence Day holiday." CBS News relayed that Friday could potentially be the busiest day with over 3 million people anticipated to be screened by the TSA.
Additions to flight routes and an enhanced schedule also contribute to lengthier lines at Pittsburgh International Airport. Recent service expansions include Delta's new flight to Salt Lake City and additional routes from carriers like Frontier, Spirit, and Southwest. It's been reported that more than 20 new routes were added in the past two years. However, relief is in sight with the upcoming completion of a new $1.5 billion landside terminal expected in spring 2025. This facility is set to feature eleven TSA lanes with a dedicated family lane, effectively doubling the security throughput, as noted by TribLive.
