airport outdoor terraces

Another airport gets an outdoor patio

Observation Decks, ,

At one time, outdoor observation decks and patios were common at airports and many modern-day travelers and avgeeks have pleasant memories of going to the airport just to see planes land and take off.

Unfortunately, many airport observation decks were closed due to modern-day concerns about security.

But some airports, including San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Denver International Airport (DEN), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK/T5 – JetBlue), and some others still have them.

Others are adding outdoor patios as a new and very welcome amenity.

Monterey Regional Airport (MRY), on California’s central coast, is the newest airport to add outdoor space for passengers to relax before their flight.

MRY’s Outdoor Courtyard is located post-security, at Gate 1, and offers comfortable seating and great views of the runway, Monterey Bay, and the surrounding area.

There is also an outdoor pet relief area for travelers with furry companions.

Here are some snaps of the outdoor space and the view.

Nonstop routes at MRY include Burbank, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle.

Check out the view!

And, while Monterey Regional Airport is small, another great amenity is Chef Tim Wood’s latest venture, Woody’s at the Airport.

Located pre-security, on the upper level of the airport, the restaurant also overlooks the runway and the bay. (And they validate parking).

Do you have a favorite outdoor patio or observation deck at an airport? Let us know about it in the comments and we’ll update the list.

(Photos above courtesy Monterey Airport and SeeMonterey.com)

What’s in store at Pittsburgh Intl Airport’s new terminal?

Airport Terminals, , ,

Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) has broken ground on a new $1.4 billion new terminal building.

The project is the first new airport to be built from the ground up in the post-pandemic world. And it would be a big deal even if we weren’t coming out of a travel-stopping pandemic.

With the new facility, Pittsburgh International Airport is promising many new “airport of the future” features and amenities. Highlights include 90,000 square feet of outdoor terraces, a rainwater harvesting program, and emerging touchless technology.

Even better, the new terminal will be super-green and powered by the airport’s own microgrid, which is fueled by 10,000 solar panels and five natural gas generators.

Does this sound like an airport you can’t wait to visit? The terminal won’t be completed until 2025. But in the meantime, here are some of the renderings of the new building that have been shared around so far.

We’re loving all the greenery.