Air Traffic Up 3.8 percent at Pittsburgh International Airport (KPIT), Pennsylvania.

Sept. 12, 2011 6:30 a.m.

PITTSBURGH -- Scheduled passenger traffic at Pittsburgh International Airport continues to show year-to-date gains with six airlines reporting increases in July -- and tomorrow the airport will open an express security lane dedicated to travelers who have only one carry-on item.

Year-to-date scheduled passenger totals show traffic is up 3.8% from July 2010 to a total of 4,799,959 passengers, according to a report by the Allegheny County Airport Authority. A total of 771,270 scheduled passengers were enplaned and deplaned at the airport in July.

Delta Air Lines realized an increase in July of more than 10,000 passengers, equaling a 7.8% increase to 146,899. Influencing factors include Delta's daily flights to Paris and three new daily flights to Boston.

Overall passenger traffic in July 2011 compared to July 2010 dropped slightly, a 1% decrease to 771,270. Commercial operations continue to show a steady increase through the year, including July's 5.3% increase to 11,319.

Bradley D. Penrod, CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority, said his organization is joining with the Transportation Security Administration in Pittsburgh to open the express security lane at 5 a.m. tomorrow. This is "a Pittsburgh-specific program" to improve the screening process particularly since traffic has been increasing and lines have been longer at the airport, Penrod said. "This move comes as a result of more people carrying more items through the checkpoint to avoid airline bag fees."

To enter the express lane each traveler will be required to have no more than one item, which includes purses, briefcases, computer cases and such. That means passengers with a carry-on and another item such as a computer bag would be required to enter any one of the other security lines. Passengers may carry a jacket through the Express Lane but no other items. Carry-ons should measure no more than 22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches.

"One of the major contributors to longer security lines is that fewer and fewer passengers are checking their bags and taking more -- and larger -- bags through the security checkpoint," said Joseph Terrell, federal security director, TSA, Pittsburgh. "The additional screening of these items places a burden on the screening process. With the express lane, we will be able to alleviate that burden and move passengers through the process at a better pace."

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