Case Studies
Building on Pittsburgh’s rich history of innovation, the Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA) is redefining what airports can and should be. Following a period of decline when US Airways abandoned their Pittsburgh hub, the ACAA entered an era of growth and development under new leadership from visionary CEO Christina Cassotis. Realizing that airports can be economic engines for the regions they serve, Cassotis ignited innovation with several impactful initiatives launching in the past 10 years.
Most notable is Pittsburgh International Airport’s (PIT’s) transformation, which broke ground in 2021 and is scheduled to open in 2025. This project is creating an airport that is built by and for Pittsburgh and that will serve as the world class gateway to the Pittsburgh region – using no state or local tax dollars.
The case studies available here tell the stories of some of those initiatives. The ACAA, which operates both PIT and Allegheny County Airport (AGC), goes above and beyond what is expected of an airport authority. Our goal is to serve as a catalyst for change and growth within the Pittsburgh region and aviation industry. This has resulted in strategic innovations that span infrastructure, workforce development, energy and culture – to name a few.
Readers will get a closer look at the ACAA’s innovations from ideation to completion and our plans for the future, including learnings from key players and stakeholders. Major achievements are addressed along with challenges and how they were overcome. The purpose of these studies is to inspire other organizations to implement similar projects within their own industries, and to explain how such projects may be accomplished.
Pittsburgh International Airport
Travelers’ Sensory Room Advances Inclusive Design & Creates Blueprint for Accessible Spaces Worldwide
Inspired by a visit to Air Berlin’s offices, ACAA CEO Christina Cassotis installed CEO mailboxes all around the airport campus in 2017 to better communicate with employees. Shortly after, a team member with an autistic son submitted an idea to build a private space at the airport for those with sensory sensitivities to get acclimated before or after flights, which can be stressful events for them.
Upon reading the letter, Christina immediately knew she had to explore this and sprung in action, assembling cross-functional teams who took on the challenge of funding, designing, and building this inclusive space. The end result is beneficial for the community, but the project ended up being a development opportunity for the team that built it as well.
Pittsburgh International Airport Microgrid
Setting the Standard for Resilient Power in the Aviation Industry
It all started with an 11-hour blackout at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, followed by another blackout at Los Angeles international Airport a few months later. It became clear that when an airport loses power, its devastating effects ripple far beyond a few canceled flights. ACAA CEO Christina Cassotis was determined to avoid this at PIT by making it one of the most resilient airports in the world.
She had an idea to build a microgrid – a smaller power grid, separate from the main power utility that is powered by natural gas and solar energy. However, not only did it have to be more resilient, but also more sustainable and more cost effective in order to be practical. Through a successful public private partnership, PIT is now the only airport in the U.S. to be powered completely by its own microgrid.