The Airmall at Pittsburgh International Airport will open just in time for the holiday shopping season.
A pilot-program set to start sometime next month would permit people without airline tickets to pass into the secured portion of the airport, lined with airline gates and Airmall stores.
"It's very much on track and there really aren't any major hurdles we have to clear," said JoAnn Jenny, an Allegheny County Airport Authority spokeswoman.
The 100 Airmall shops have been off-limits to nonpassengers since just after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The Airmall shops are based in the Airside Terminal, which is accessible after passing through the airport's main security checkpoint. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration only has permitted ticketed airline passengers beyond the checkpoint as a security precaution.
The change has inconvenienced people who could no longer greet or send off somebody at a gate. It also hurt sales with the loss of "meeters and greeters."
Airmall sales are down 12 percent from last year but the largest reason is due to cuts by US Airways.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has backed the authority's program and is anticipated to give final approval, Jenny said. TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis said the agency is working with the authority to ensure security is maintained with the new program.
Said Jenny: "If the TSA approves, then we're pretty much good to go for mid- to late-November."
The revenue boost is not projected to be great. Airmall manager BAA has said the difference is about 5 percent.
