Celebrating the 2025 Pittsburgher of the Year and a Decade of Allegiant Partnership

Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis may be a native New Englander, but her can-do spirit, motivational drive and innovative vision are quintessentially Pittsburgh.

That leadership was acknowledged by her recent Pittsburgher of the Year award from Pittsburgh Magazine. She was recognized for her achievements leading the Allegheny County Airport Authority, where she’s revolutionizing the air travel experience and redefining the role of an airport. To celebrate the momentous achievement, the publication hosted a ceremonial event at the LeMont restaurant in Mount Washington with community leaders, airport colleagues and Cassotis’ family.

“I can tell you that when I got here, I just wanted to change the industry,” Cassotis said during the event. “I didn’t know we’d end up changing part of the community, and I didn’t know how closely we could work with everybody in it to do things I didn’t even imagine 10 years ago.”

The award is a timely one too, as it comes as Cassotis is celebrating a decade leading ACAA in the same year as she marks another milestone with the opening of PIT’s new airport.

“We’ve had a decade of transformation, and we’ve had a decade of making a difference, and we did it through collaboration and co-creation,” she said. “It’s the kind of thing that I hope gets replicated, just like the sensory room, in other airports around the world, because it should. I think we’re going to leave a legacy at the airport.”

“It’s a hell of a story,” Cassotis said. “And we’re not done yet.”

Below are more pictures from the event by Blue Sky News photographer Beth Hollerich.

PIT celebrates Allegiant’s 10-year anniversary

If you’ve visited Pittsburgh International Airport recently, you might have noticed balloons adorning Allegiant’s ticketing counter. But these aren’t just decorations; they mark a major milestone in the airline’s journey at PIT.

In February, PIT recognized the marked ultra-low-cost carrier’s 10 years of service at the airport with a celebration featuring cake, games and, you guessed it, balloons.

Over the past 10 years, Allegiant has become one of PIT’s fastest-growing airlines. The airline has grown from offering three to 14 destinations, the second most of any carrier at PIT. Most recently, Allegiant began nonstop service to Phoenix, scheduled to operate seasonally until the end of May. Allegiant routes reach many popular vacation destinations, including Myrtle Beach, Key West, Orlando and West Palm Beach.

“We are extremely grateful for our decade-long partnership with Pittsburgh International Airport,” said Kristen Schilling Gonzales, Allegiant’s VP of Planning & Revenue. “When we made PIT one of our bases in 2015, it reflected our confidence in this community and the potential for growth. This moment marks another milestone in an incredible journey.”

Welcoming Allegiant to Pittsburgh was one of the first things Christina Cassotis did when she became CEO.

Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato issued a proclamation marking Feb. 11 as Allegiant Air Day in Allegheny County, which ACAA Director of Corporate & Government Affairs Tyler Laughlin read at the celebration.

More photos from the event by Blue Sky News photographer Beth Hollerich are below.