Pittsburgh International Airport increases passenger costs by 15.9%

Increase in the cost of passengers

Starting in 2023, the cost of a passenger boarding a flight in Pittsburgh will increase from $10.32 to $11.97, a 15.9% increase. The Allegheny County Airport Authority unanimously approved the airport’s new spending plan. The newly improved increase is the second in three years, but the airport claims that it is expenses still below the 10-year national average of $13.

The Pittsburgh airport approved a spending plan of $142.2 million, up 10.1% from $129.1 million this year. Airport officials said the increase is due to rising operating and travel costs, as well as inflation. Operations are finally returning to pre-pandemic levels, and many United States airlines expect Thanksgiving 2019 to reach 2019 levels.

While the cost per passenger is rising significantly, it is still 20% below its peak of $14.97 in 2011. Until last year, the number of passengers at the airport had not increased for seven years. Airport authorities have managed to reduce costs by using revenues from natural gas drilling, government funding and debt repayments from the terminal, which opened in 1992.

An Airports Council International survey shows the average cost per passenger in the U.S. and Canada is about $17.50, more than $5 higher than in Pittsburgh. The airport expects it to reach 90% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023. Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Kosotis told airport officials that the airport has reached about 84% of its 2019 level.

Although the airport is in the middle of a major airport upgrade project, the plans do not affect next year’s budget or passenger fares. The $1.4 billion airport renovation project includes a new ticket terminal with new security and baggage handling/claims areas.

An increase in the number of British Airways flights

Pittsburgh’s local lobbyists recently pressed British Airways to increase its services for the city of Pennsylvania. After about a month of lobbying and flying to England to speak with British Airways executives, the airline announced that by May 2023 the number of flights per week will increase from four to six.

Photo: British Airways

A group of 30 community leaders, business people and county executives flew to England to make their case for expanding services from the UK. County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said he was thrilled with the positive results from the people who lobbied.

British Airways Network and Alliances Director Neil Chernoff said:

“We are excited to increase the frequency of our flights from Pittsburgh to London next summer. As the only airline to operate direct routes between Pittsburgh and London Heathrow, these additional flights will give our customers even greater flexibility when traveling to and from the UK.”

The Pittsburgh Airport Authority estimates the two additional weekly flights will generate an economic impact of $12.3 million and boost efforts to attract other airlines to the airport.