Asking some 200 business and community leaders to “think bigger” and beyond recent airport accomplishments, Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis said the state of our airports is dynamic, energetic, challenging, proud, full of ambitious vision, and most of all, transformational.
At the third annual State of the Airport event held Wednesday morning at the Westin Convention Center, Cassotis was joined by David Oppenheim, Vice President of Sales for Alaska Airlines and County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, in updating the community on progress and plans at Pittsburgh International and Allegheny County Airport.
2017 was a transformational year for both airports and the Airport Authority. From new airlines and flights to the announcement of a Terminal Modernization Program, officials offered a recap of success as well as a view for the future of airport facilities.
“The story of our airports and the people who make them great is just getting off the ground,” Cassotis said. “We have grander designs before us, and the results will translate into a vibrant, stronger region that is more accessible.”
The Airport Authority also released its 2017 Annual Report outlining economic impact to the region, improved financial position, increases in air service and passenger traffic, improvements in terminal amenities and innovative partnerships and programs.
In the report, Fitzgerald noted that the airport team achieved another year of impressive results including landing a new nonstop flight to Seattle on Alaska Airlines, new international service on WOW air and Condor, as well as regional service to 12 cities on OneJet.
“They have opened more of the nation and world to Pittsburgh while at the same time making our airport more attractive to airlines by reducing the cost to operate here,” he said. “We continue to see greater interest in significant business investment, thanks in large part to improvements to the airport.”
Oppenheim said Alaska is a fast-growing airline that has taken notice of changes at Pittsburgh International as well as the region’s tech-fueled renaissance and livability. “This is a place that has a business climate and community that is growing,” he said. “We’re excited to be in Pittsburgh…if this route does well, we’ll look to do more.”
