Pittsburgh International Airport’s cargo amenities and Arnold Palmer Regional Airport’s passenger terminal got a boost Wednesday from PennDOT grants totaling more than $2.8 million.
The bulk of the funding, $2.4 million, will assist the Allegheny County Airport Authority’s plan to develop expanded air cargo facilities at Pittsburgh International, including buildings and access for aircraft and vehicles.
The authority was awarded an $18.7 million federal grant in late 2019 toward a 75,000-square-foot cargo processing facility and adjacent surface parking lot. Airport officials said at that time the new building would be available to multiple users and would be located near existing cargo facilities at the airport’s northern edge, along Business 376.
The project, which is in the design phase, would allow cargo carriers to use larger aircraft and add services.
Airways magazine reported that international cargo carrier Finnair recently joined the growing cargo traffic at Pittsburgh International with a short-term flight schedule that officials hoped could be expanded.
In March, the airport saw a 29% increase in cargo compared to the previous year, with air freight rising by 27% and mail jumping by 37%, the magazine noted.
Arnold Palmer Regional will use its grant for two projects, including installation of exterior wayfinding signs to guide visitors on the grounds of the airport in Unity. “They’ll show people how to park and how to get into the terminal,” said Gabe Monzo, executive director of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority, which operates the airport.
The authority recently added a gated area that provides overnight parking close to the terminal for a fee. Parking in the area is free for short-term visitors. Free parking also is offered in lots farther from the terminal.
The Arnold Palmer airport grant additionally will help to construct a facility to contain fluid used for deicing aircraft. “In case there is ever a spill, it will capture the fluid before it gets into the soil,” Monzo said.
The grant is expected to cover 75% of the project costs, with the authority paying for the remainder, Monzo said.
