PITTSBURGH - Officials at Pittsburgh International Airport expect a significant increase in passenger traffic during the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s travel period, marking the first major holiday season for the facility’s new terminal.

Airlines are scheduled to operate nearly 465,000 arriving and departing seats at the airport between Dec. 21 and Jan. 4. This figure represents a nearly 6% increase from the same period last year, when carriers operated approximately 439,000 seats.

The increase in capacity follows the opening of the airport’s new terminal on Nov. 18. Several airlines have added routes or resumed service throughout 2025, contributing to the higher seat count.

Recent service additions include JetBlue resuming flights to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and American Airlines beginning seasonal nonstop service to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Delta Air Lines will resume Saturday nonstop service to Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 20. Other carriers, including Allegiant Air, Breeze Airways, and Southwest Airlines, also increased capacity on existing routes or launched new destinations earlier in the year.

The local increase mirrors national trends. AAA projects approximately 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home between Dec. 20 and Jan. 1. Of those, nearly 8.03 million are expected to fly, a 2.3% increase from the previous year.

Industry experts forecast Dec. 19, Dec. 26, and Dec. 27 as the busiest days for air travel. The lightest traffic is expected on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.

Airport officials recommend passengers arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international departures.

Because this is the first holiday season for the new terminal, parking and security configurations have changed. The new Terminal Garage and Terminal Lot offer walking access to the facility, while the Shuttle Lot requires a bus transfer. Officials urge travelers to reserve parking spots in advance through the airport’s website due to expected high demand.

The new security checkpoint on the third floor features advanced scanners that allow electronics and liquids to remain in carry-on bags.

“People are eager to travel this holiday season,” said Debbie Haas, vice president of travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “That’s leading to record numbers on the roads and in the skies. Our advice is to plan ahead.”