Pittsburgh Airport Named Airport of the Year

Pittsburgh International Airport earned the honor from International Airport Review, its second aviation industry recognition of the year.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Air Travel

Wide photograph of a modern airport terminal with a long glass-and-steel canopy over an empty curbside drive, green hills and clear sky beyond. — Pittsburgh International Airport was named Airport of the Year by International Airport Review, its second such aviation industry honor this year after Air Transport News recognized it in September. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

International Airport Review named Pittsburgh International Airport its Airport of the Year, the second aviation publication to give the airport that recognition. Air Transport News had previously named it Airport of the Year in September.

Why it matters

A panel of airport leaders worldwide selected the winners based on operational efficiency, passenger experience, innovation and sustainability. The recognition highlights Pittsburgh's new terminal, which opened in November 2025, for residents and travelers using the airport.

The new terminal cost $1.7 billion and opened in November 2025, and the airport achieved LEED gold certification in September. The source does not detail how the panel weighted the award criteria against one another.

The players

International Airport Review

An aviation industry publication that hosts an annual International Airport Summit and bestows industry awards on airports worldwide.

Air Transport News

An aviation industry publication that also recognized Pittsburgh International Airport as Airport of the Year earlier in 2026.

The details

International Airport Review announced the winners in Rome during its International Airport Summit. The award recognizes excellence in operational efficiency, passenger experience, innovation and sustainability, with winners chosen by a panel of airport leaders worldwide.

September 2025: Airport received LEED gold certification for sustainability.
November 2025: The new $1.7 billion terminal opened.
September 2026: Air Transport News named the airport Airport of the Year.
November 2026: International Airport Review named the airport Airport of the Year in Rome.

Travel Outlook

The airport's second Airport of the Year honor, following Air Transport News's September 2026 recognition, shows the new terminal drawing consistent industry praise. The award places Pittsburgh among global airports that outranked major international hubs such as JFK and Munich.

Travelers flying through Pittsburgh International can expect a terminal recognized for passenger experience and efficiency, which may influence connection planning. The honor reflects operational standards the airport is publicly crediting for smoother airport navigation.

The takeaway

Airport quality is increasingly judged by sustainability and passenger experience, not just size or capacity. Travelers choosing airports can use these industry rankings as one signal of operational quality.