Global and Regional Leaders Gather to Mark Historic PIT Milestone

Key global industry and regional leaders will gather Friday for a gala to mark the ambitious transformation at Pittsburgh International Airport. This moment is one of the ways the airport has been sharing its modernization with thousands of community members and celebrating the ambitious project with many of the people and organizations who made it possible.

The PIT Transformed Gala, presented by Rycon Construction, will bring together global designers, builders and aviation experts along with community leaders and among the region’s best talent to experience Pittsburgh’s new terminal, which sets an innovative standard across the industry in both what has been created and how it was built.

Designed to evoke the natural beauty and hardworking spirit of the region, it’s a new, welcoming front door that connects the world to Pittsburgh and charges the region and community to be catalysts in this next era of change for Pittsburgh. Now with a world-class terminal offering an exceptional passenger and visitor experience, expanded air service and nonstop flights to more than 60 locations, PIT has been transformed to help accelerate the region’s growth aspirations.

PIT’s transformation began as an idea borne out of the necessity to change. In 2015, Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis had a vision for what the airport could be and how it could better serve the Pittsburgh region – from additional nonstop air service to advanced manufacturing development to energy independence with the first microgrid to completely power an airport. Since then, PIT has been a pioneer, redefining the role of an airport within the community, the aviation industry and the world – and now it has industry-leading facilities to match.

The new terminal has been created by the people in this community with the support of partners in the aviation industry. This once-in-a-generation achievement is a testament to the vision and spirit of our entire region.

“Our team — including our design, construction and union partners — has renewed Pittsburgh’s legacy of aviation leadership, while transforming the airport to meet the needs of our region,” said Cassotis. “What began as a strategy to change a business model quickly became an opportunity to engage the know-how, creativity and civic pride of people throughout the region.”

The gala is the latest in a series of events leading up to the new terminal opening this fall where ACAA is providing stakeholders and partners the opportunity to see and celebrate the terminal. Following a successful airport Friends and Family Day and the first Public Trial in September, the gala is the next step, to be followed by a Community Open House on Oct. 11 and a second Public Trial with a date to be announced soon. In the end, more than 15,000 people in the community will have had the chance to see the terminal.​

The gala, driven by sponsor funding and ticket proceeds, is a uniquely Pittsburgh event showcasing the region’s leadership in business, philanthropy, technology and innovation, and the community partners on a world stage with key aviation leaders.

The new terminal enables the community to be catalysts in the next era of change for Pittsburgh. This new community asset is just the beginning of the region’s future shared success and builds on the growth of past 10 years.

Gala speakers include Joe Manganiello, Cameron Heyward and Charlie Batch, who were announced last week, as well as British Airways CEO Sean Doyle, Gecko Robotics CEO Jake Loosararian, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, former County Executive and current Executive Director of the Southwestern PA Commission Rich Fitzgerald, ACAA Board Chair David Minnotte and Cassotis.

The gala is being planned and produced by Pittsburgh-based Flyspace Productions. The event will include performances by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, DJ Bonics and Cello Fury.

For more information on the new terminal, visit PITtransformed.com.