A Decade of Transformation with Christina Cassotis

When Christina Cassotis took the reins as CEO of Pittsburgh International Airport 10 years ago, few could have predicted the extraordinary transformation she would lead. A true trailblazer with aviation coursing through her veins (her father was a Pan Am pilot after all!), Cassotis brought a bold vision and a relentless drive to reimagine what an airport could mean for its community and the world. Her leadership has not only revitalized Pittsburgh International Airport but also positioned it as a global innovator in business development, technology, energy and economic impact. 

In this interview, Cassotis reflects on her journey, from tackling seemingly insurmountable challenges to unveiling the ambitious $1.7 billion Terminal Modernization Program (TMP). Her story is one of grit, resilience and an unwavering belief in the power of airports to fuel regional success. 

Her entire career has been focused on the aviation/transportation industry. The daughter of a pilot, Cassotis began her career in commercial aviation as Deputy Director of Communications for the Massachusetts Port Authority which operates Boston Logan International Airport. She went on to serve as Managing Officer for Airport Services for SH&E, leading a global team of aviation consultants in areas of competitiveness and business strategy for clients worldwide - airport operators, investors, governments. When a headhunter approached her about leading Pittsburgh International Airport, she questioned the idea and pursued the post a bit on a whim. 

As Cassotis learned more about the opportunity and met with local leadership, her excitement began to grow. She noted that her decision to take the role still didn’t come easy; but the region’s earnestness to revive the airport was clear. 

“These people really care like nobody cares about their airport,” she remembers thinking. The overwhelming community support and a shared vision for what the airport could become became a guiding force in her decision to lead and transform Pittsburgh International Airport. 

A Bold Beginning

“What the hell were you thinking?” That is how Cassotis recalls her mental dialogue before taking on the colossal task of revitalizing Pittsburgh International Airport. She stepped in with unwavering belief, knowing she had nothing to lose but everything to gain by proving that airports could be pivotal to community success. Her initial skepticism of Pittsburgh turned into passion when she realized the entire region genuinely cared about their airport’s potential.  

“I really thought if I can do what I believe airports should be able to do in this country – if we can do that in Pittsburgh – then it’ll be huge. I’m trying to prove that airports are important,” she exclaimed. 

Getting started wouldn’t be easy as Cassotis determined that so many aspects of the airport had to be addressed. 

“I would say everything needed to be fixed. But, it was very clear that I had one job according to the board, according to Rich [Fitzgerald], according to the community. The only thing that was going to matter is can you bring in more flights? That’s it.” 

Cassotis said the premise of the airport ever regaining hub status from its US Airways days again was gone. “And I had to get people to understand that there was a different model for success, which was an education. That took a long time.” 

She and her team kept the laser focus on bringing in more flights. 

“It’s not really hard to figure out how to do the airline recruiting. The hard part is getting them in, but the actual mechanics of it was pretty straightforward,” she said. “And I had a lot of really good people here who wanted to do it differently.” 

On top of nearly doubling the number of nonstop destinations from 36 in 2015 to 62 today, she had to also juggle improving and optimizing everything from parking to concessions to the facility to union negotiations. 

“It’s just so exciting and it’s never dull,” Cassotis said. “The big job was getting Pittsburgh back on a world stage.” 

Innovative Changes and Community Impact

Over her tenure, Cassotis introduced numerous inno-vative changes that stepped outside traditional airport oper-ations, such as Neighborhood 91 and projects like the energy microgrid and xBridge.

These “what-are-you-doing” moments were actualized because Cassotis and her team believed in solutions where others didn’t see them. Not many, if any, airports around the world can boast a digital manufacturing community, tech incubator and self-contained energy grid as part of their portfolio. 

If a total out-of-the-box idea can benefit the region, the community and the industry, Cassotis said she will explore it. Christina emphasizes that success is not achieved alone. “First thing is a value match,” she mentions when talking about building her team. She believes in fostering a work culture where every role is respected, which has proven essential in steering the Pittsburgh airport towards its ambitious goals.  

A pivotal part of the airport’s transformation was the realization of the $1.7 billion new terminal program to modernize the facility and put it on a competitive footing that reflects the travel and connection needs of Pittsburgh’s new economy.  

Despite the Covid-19 Pandemic throwing a complete wrench into the TMP when nobody could predict the future of travel, Cassotis’ leadership and the persistence of her team ensured that the vision stayed on track. Her dedication to continuous communication with airlines and stakeholders during the pandemic secured their support, laying the foundation for a master plan that would redefine Pittsburgh’s entrance to the world.  

Over the last decade it has become apparent that Cassotis exemplifies transformative leadership, driven by a deep-rooted connection to community values and an encompassing vision for the future. As Pittsburgh International Airport continues to evolve under her guidance, it marks not only the airport’s change but also revitalizes Pittsburgh’s identity as a forward-thinking center of opportunity and innovation.  

“Over the past 10 years, the team I’ve assembled has taken this airport – counted out by the global industry – to a leadership position in business development, robotics, AI, data, automation, accessibility, workforce development, energy sustainability, cargo and logistics, advanced manufacturing and economic impact for an entire region and for a global industry that desperately needs new thinking,” said Cassotis. “In short, we’re making a difference by redefining what it means to be an airport.”