After a Decade of Collaboration, the Airport Pittsburgh Deserves Has Arrived

In less than 12 hours, Pittsburgh will operate its new, modernized terminal for the first time, finally giving the region the airport it deserves.  

The transformed Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is the culmination of over a decade of planning, design, construction and most importantly, collaboration amongst team members.  

The Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA) – which owns and operates PIT – knows what it means to work together toward a shared goal, one that will better serve the community and region. Since the transformed PIT terminal was nothing more than a sketch on a napkin, the ACAA team has rallied together to build the airport of the future.  

Since taking the role as ACAA CEO 10 years ago, Christina Cassotis has assembled a multifaceted team with diverse viewpoints ready for any and all challenges that building a new terminal brings.  

“PIT’s transformation has been over a decade in the making and was made possible by the hard work and dedication of our entire team and many external partners,” said Cassotis. “Concurrently with designing, building, testing and training, we’ve been running the current airport safely and securely – a testament to our skilled team.” 

Running one airport, operating another 

Building a new airport with a new, smart Terminal Garage and renovated airside terminal is enough work for any one team but doing so while operating an existing landside terminal has been the ACAA team’s reality for the past decade.  

Former ACAA Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer Paul Hoback worked hand-in-hand with ACAA Chief Operations Officer Travis McNichols to make sure operations remained seamless throughout the new terminal construction process.  

One of the primary steps the two leaders took to prepare for Opening Day was the work they did to form an Operational Readiness and Transition (ORAT) team, which helps successfully transfer a new facility from its construction phase to live operations.  

The two worked together alongside Cassotis to make sure the people who operated the old landside terminal and will operate the new terminal had input on the project, a key step in making sure the new facility is designed for the people who will make it run seamlessly and efficiently. This strategy fosters close collaboration amongst a variety of team members, producing effective outcomes.  

For example, the current landside terminal was built without freight elevators. That has meant that, for 33 years, workers waited for passengers to disembark the elevators before loading. Following input from Operations, the new terminal will have two freight elevators – a change that matters because it impacts team members’ day-to-day responsibilities and creates a more efficient work environment.  

Working together toward a shared goal 

To make sure the ACAA team was fully equipped to open and operate its new terminal, it was critical to make sure teams were constantly communicating.  

Leading up to Opening Day, Cassotis began hosting weekly organization-wide calls for each shift for all ACAA team members. These were open forums for Cassotis to share key updates on the progress of the modernized terminal and for team members to ask her questions directly. The calls often featured other members of the ACAA Senior Leadership team, ensuring they could help answer questions or provide insight into their areas of expertise. 

The ACAA Communications & Brand team has been committed to keeping team members up-to-speed on new terminal updates, working in tandem with Cassotis to host quarterly Town Halls, produce videos from Cassotis with recaps of important events leading up to Opening Day and creating a new intranet site with regular updates for team members. 

The team created and managed assets internally and externally to tell the story of the PIT’s transformation – from the Groundbreaking to Opening Day. Throughout each terminal milestone, including the new terminal ribbon cutting, community open house and friends and family day for team members, Communications & Brand has ensured staff members are on-site to capture content and document these key moments in Pittsburgh’s aviation history.  

On top of staying in constant communications with team members, working cross-departmentally was important to crossing the finish line to Opening Day.  

Tom Woodrow, SVP of Strategic Program Management at the ACAA, led a cross-functional team with representatives from 16 departments across the ACAA, who met weekly for a year and half prior to Opening Day.  

“Our team has been resilient, flexible and able to work through the highs and lows, all while keeping their eye on the prize of opening day,” Woodrow said. “It’s a master class in collaboration, communication, flexibility and resilience.” 

Each member of Woodrow’s group worked with their departments to identify each of their must-haves for Opening Day. The group was created to ensure seamless continuity from operations at the existing landside terminal to the transformed terminal.  

Woodrow and his team were present throughout every new terminal milestone, and they played a major role in organizing and executing the public trials, which invited members of the community to walk through the airport as passengers, a critical step in making sure the airport team was prepared for Opening Day.   

“There is a ‘we got this’ Pittsburgh work ethic throughout this team, and we are ready to open an airport built by Pittsburgh for Pittsburgh that better serves the community and the region,” Woodrow said.  

Team collaboration fuels thriving partnerships  

Thanks to collaboration amongst team members, the ACAA’s partnerships have thrived throughout the terminal building process.  

Bryan Dietz, ACAA’s SVP of Commercial Development & Air Service, cites relationships and partnerships as the driving factors in accomplishing work at the airport for the region. 

“We take time to invest in people, and then we make Pittsburgh a part of that,” Dietz said. “That’s how we have been able to add air service and add concessionaires.” 

Dietz and his team were major players in bringing over 20 new concessions to the airport in 2025. Building partnerships with local concessioners and worldwide chains required establishing a trusting relationship, something the ACAA has continually prioritized.  

“We take time in finding how everyone can succeed together,” Dietz said. 

The Commercial Development & Air Service team also played a major part in changing the parking experience for passengers. PIT’s new onsite parking options provide proximity, value and peace of mind for all passengers and budgets – another aspect of creating a more welcoming airport experience for every airport visitor.  

To formally execute partnerships at the ACAA, the Legal Department managed contracts, leases, concessions, sponsorships and advertising, working with teams across the organization and with outside partners to ensure steady revenue streams to support the new terminal opening.  

“Our department is proud to have provided a backbone for cross-departmental efforts to a seamless transition to our transformed airport,” said Hobie Webster, SVP of Legal at the ACAA. “The entire Legal Team has played an integral role in the ACAA’s approach to Day One, in direct support of the transformed terminal, opening events and continued operations behind the scenes.”  

In the Corporate and Government Affairs department – headed by Vince Gastgeb, the ACAA’s Chief Government and Corporate Affairs Officer – partnerships fuel the work they do. In fact, their path to Day One started before the first shovel went into the ground. 

From March 2023 to November 2025, the ACAA provided over 400 tours of the new terminal, approximately 200 of which the Corporate & Government Affairs team organized, showing nearly 3,000 people what the ACAA is building for the region. Some attendees included the First Lady, Lieutenant Governor, members of Congress and State and Federal Secretaries of Transportation. 

“We went from explaining to our audiences why we needed a new terminal, to a few years and 200+ tours later, answering questions of why we didn’t do this sooner,” Gastgeb said.  

This team also led the efforts to obtain funding for the terminal and associated projects, which used no state or local taxes, from federal grant programs and within Pittsburgh’s generous philanthropic community. 

The ACAA’s Finance team helped lead efforts to fund the $1.7 billion terminal project without using taxpayer dollars.  

In April of 2025, the ACAA announced that three national financial ratings agencies showcased their support and trust in airport leadership just before the final bond sale for transformed PIT terminal, the same straight A’s these agencies issued in 2021 and 2023. These positive ratings allow the ACAA to borrow at lower rates, saving money.  

“We’re committed to creating the best possible experience for our community,” said Eric Sprys, the ACAA’s Chief Financial Officer. “The final bond sale allowed us to fund the remaining construction of the new terminal, and the strong ratings allowed us to borrow at lower rates, saving significant money over the 30-year life of the bonds.”  

A people-first project through and through 

Cassotis knew that building a new terminal meant more than presenting the region a modernized piece of infrastructure. It was a chance to better the industry and design an airport experience that puts passengers first.  

The desire to strengthen the industry is the heart of the modernized terminal project, a mission that led the ACAA to launch PIT2Work, a workforce initiative aimed at providing employment opportunities to people in the Pittsburgh region.  

PIT2Work started in 2023 to support construction of the new terminal and other construction projects throughout the region. Since then, more than 100 individuals have received training, credentials and transferrable skills through the program.  

In 2023, shortly after launching PIT2Work, the ACAA opened a childcare center at the airport for team members and campus staff, providing its next generation of passengers a one-of-a-kind learning environment, close to their parents. 

The ACAA Human Resources team played a major role in this development. Alicia Booker, the ACAA’s Director of Workforce Development, helped spearhead PIT2Work, alongside Cassotis and Lisa Naylor, the ACAA’s former Executive Vice President & Chief Human Capital Officer.  

Cassotis also created an Experience & Design team at the ACAA, a rarity amongst airports and the first-of-its-kind at the Authority. This dedicated group is committed to bettering the passenger journey and creating a more welcoming airport experience.  

The impact of Experience & Design is present throughout the new terminal. The artwork throughout the facility was largely produced by local artists, and incorporating community elements like these helps fulfill the airport’s mission to reflect, connect and serve the region.  

It was critical to ensure the transformed PIT creates a welcoming experience for every team member, so Experience & Design prioritized implementing Universal Access into the new terminal experience.  

Flight information displays and baggage information displays were re-designed with accessibility in mind, and a new terminal map allows passengers to quickly receive accurate step-by-step navigation. As part of the airside renovation project, completed alongside the transformed terminal project, Nursing Rooms have been added to every airport concourse.  

The team also helped redesign a more passenger-friendly website experience, ensuring the passenger journey begins before travelers ever step foot into the new terminal.   

Modernized for resiliency  

PIT’s new airport must be resilient to keep up with a fast-paced aviation industry, a goal ACAA’s Chief Information Officer Deepak Nayyar knew when he started working for the airport.  

He spearheaded the work that the ACAA has done to simplify its technology strategy and ensure the network is reliable and secure on Day One. He and his team have also made improvements to ensure the airport network is secure and able to mitigate cybersecurity risks.  

Nayyar and his team also had a hand in developing the airport’s smart Terminal Garage, which includes a smart parking guidance system that shows real-time space openings. His team used real-time insights into which parking products passengers are using, helping them launch new products and optimize existing parking products, using data to create insights.  

The start of a new era 

PIT’s transformed terminal has been built for the Pittsburgh of today – replacing an outdated airport with one that is welcoming for all. It will include a myriad of improved features, including a streamlined security experience, faster baggage delivery and expanded parking options. 

Still, opening the new PIT does not represent the end of the airport’s story. In fact, it’s just the beginning for Pittsburgh’s airport.  

“This building is representative of everything we wanted to do,” said Gastgeb. “While other regions search for new economic development opportunities, for us, it’s the beginning of what’s ahead.” 

“I am so proud of what we’ve built together, which is much more than a building,” Cassotis said. “Everyone at the ACAA made this once-in-a-generation project possible.”