Originally Posted by
Estcoast1
I would like to know what PIT/Allegheny County did to piss off the airlines. It was only about 10-12 years ago, but I remember flying fairly frequently with my family up to my late teens and the place was banging.
US had one of its largest hubs in Pittsburgh until about 2003. They were by far the largest carrier, so they asked for lower landing fees there and in PHL. PIT refused, and they threatened to move all their operations to PHL, who did offer them lower landing fees. PIT didn't back down, probably thinking that US would give in, but they didn't, so US moved most of its flights to PHL and CLT over the next 2 years or so.
Other airlines, especially DL and WN, have added several flights including PIT-CDG, but the airport still is not nearly as busy as it used to be. It is a nice airport, and ranks up there for me too, along with DEN, MSP and SEA.