Originally Posted by PHL
I was in PIT not so long ago and couldn't believe how much of a ghost town it was. Waiting for a delayed flight, I took a walk. It appears the ends of terminals A and B are shuttered. The gates were empty, the shops were gated up and this was in the middle of the day.
It was also interesting how they seem to have abandoned the main gate check in counters and just use the gate door podiums now. I peeked behind a few desks to see there weren't even computers/monitors anymore.
It's such a great facility. Perhaps HP will pick it up a little, but they more or less let Columbus go, so I don't know how pumping up PIT would really help them.
The back of Terminal B (beyond roughly gate B46) is reopening with US taking the gates. I don't know exactly why they are taking the extra gates as more flts are slated to be cut. Southwest took a few gates in the A terminal so maybe that has something to do with US shifting service to the rest of the B concourse. Also, I just read that the "AirMall" shops are rebounding and increasing hiring etc. I also can't understand how this is possible with the cutbacks etc. One bright spot is that with Southwest and more competition, O&D is way up and it is evident in the landside terminal--just as the airside terminal (A,B,C,and D) has slowed, the main terminal is notably busier lately with the increase in PAX, not to mention longer secuirty lines. Its a pleasure though to use PIT after experiencing some pretty awful facilities over the years.
Also, I can't see how it would make biz sense to eliminate SFO or LAX direct from PIT. I fly these regularly and they are simply always packed full. I have not seen a flt that was less than 80% full in almost two years. THe O&D to LA alone is enough to fill two 319s per day I understand. If they try to funnel these pax through a connection US could lose this revenue to a direct flt on Southwest, another LCC or even United. I for one would pay a premium for a direct flight.