ACAA, CEO Earn Recognition for Commitment, Dedication to Airport Industry

The Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (NEC/AAAE) on Monday recognized the Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA) and its CEO, Christina Cassotis, for commitment and dedication to the airport industry.

Cassotis kicked off the Northeast Chapter’s annual conference, this year hosted in Pittsburgh, with welcoming remarks, thanking NEC/AAAE for their partnership and lauding attendees for their hard work across the region.

“There’s no way that everything that we do isn’t incredibly critical to our economies, to social mobility, and to just making sure that our communities can do everything they can do to serve our economies. So that’s a lot of the reason that we engaged in fixing our airport, is to make sure that we could match the business model to the infrastructure,” she said.

“It’s nice to be able to be in a room with all of you who understand what it takes every day, 24/7, 365, to make sure that we’re ready. So, thank you for your partnership. Thank you for being here. Welcome to Pittsburgh.”

NEC President Sean Hammer selected ACAA and Cassotis as recipients of the F. Russell Hoyt Presidential Award for continuing the legacy of accomplishment and service of the late Hoyt, who was the AAAE’s first president and, later, the first executive director of the NEC.

“Pittsburgh is a city defined by transformation, hard work, and relentless innovation — qualities that are fully reflected in the extraordinary work taking place at Pittsburgh International Airport,” Hammer told conference attendees. “From visionary infrastructure projects to steadfast support of our chapter, our hosts have gone above and beyond to make this conference unforgettable.”

Cassotis has reshaped the long-term strategy for the region’s airports and is actively redefining what it means to be an airport.

Under her leadership, PIT opened its modernized terminal designed and built by and for the people of Pittsburgh while transforming PIT into a world-leading origin-and-destination airport. The new terminal has streamlined the airport experience for travelers and airline partners alike. She also recruited multiple new domestic and international carriers, including passenger and cargo service. At the same time, Allegheny County Airport (AGC) has experienced its own renaissance, capitalizing on the growth of private flying.

In April, AGC earned the NEC/AAAE’s 2025-26 Balchen/Post Award for Outstanding Achievement in Airport Snow and Ice Control, and PIT received an honorable mention. Both PIT and AGC took top prize for the 2024-25 season.

Photographed at top: AAAE President & CEO Todd Hauptli; ACAA CEO Christina Cassotis; NEC President Sean Hammer (Photo by Jamie Steetle)