The final phase of renovations to the international arrivals area at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) has opened to passengers, marking the substantial completion of upgrades to the airport’s customs facilities.

In February, the airport began operating its reconfigured primary processing area, the first mandatory checkpoint for passengers arriving from overseas. At this stage, officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) conduct documentation checks, biometric screening and agricultural inspections.

The redesigned space replaces a layout dating back to 1992. The new configuration is intended to support programmes aimed at simplifying entry procedures, including Global Entry and Mobile Passport Control. These schemes allow eligible travellers to submit identification details digitally through secure mobile applications before meeting an officer.

A new secondary processing area has also been introduced for passengers requiring additional screening. This facility replaces the former secondary inspection zone that operated before the opening of the airport’s new terminal in November 2025. Work on the secondary area is expected to conclude by late March.

The primary and secondary processing zones form part of wider improvements to Concourse C, which accommodates the airport’s international flights. The works fall under PIT’s 1.7 billion USD Terminal Modernisation Programme, which aims to improve passenger flow and operational efficiency.

Between the two processing areas on Concourse C’s lower level is a dedicated international baggage handling system that entered service in July 2025. The system is designed exclusively for international luggage and is intended to reduce waiting times for passengers reclaiming bags before clearing customs.

International arrivals now leave the customs area through a secure corridor that opened alongside the new terminal in November 2025. The arrangement replaces the previous system, built before the introduction of post-9/11 security requirements, which required some passengers to pass through tunnels and take trains to reach the former landside terminal. The new corridor provides a direct route from customs to the arrivals level.

Further works have been completed on the apron at Concourse C, including fixed walkways linking jet bridges to the concourse, a new tug route serving the baggage system and updated aircraft stand markings. The restriped gates can accommodate a range of widebody aircraft, including the Boeing 747 and the Airbus A380.

The upgrades come amid an expansion of international services at PIT. The airport currently offers nonstop flights to Heathrow Airport, Reykjavik, Toronto, Montreal, Punta Cana, Cancun and Dublin.