Airport Experience News has selected Christina Cassotis as its Director of the Year in the medium airports category. Cassotis is CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority, which operates Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT).
In a first for AXN, Cassotis is a two-time Director of the Year, having been honored in 2017 for her role at PIT as well. Given the massive changes PIT has undergone in subsequent years, the AX Team – with input from a range of industry advisors – felt it appropriate to once again honor Cassotis for her positive impact on the airport.
“Christina Cassotis was selected as Director of the Year due to the remarkable transformation PIT has undergone over the past several years,” said Melissa K. Montes, vice president and publisher of Airport Experience News. “The new terminal opening this year is the crowning achievement, positioning the airport for growth now and into the future.”
Cassotis took the helm at PIT in January 2015 after several years at consulting firm SH&E (which would later merge with ICF). As CEO of PIT, she has overseen massive changes to the terminal facility, air service offerings and airport positioning in the Pittsburgh region. Early on, Cassotis successfully transitioned PIT from being a US Airways hub to a medium-sized, successful origin-and-destination airport. Post-pandemic, Cassotis led the airport in bringing the concessions program in-house, shifting away from the long-standing developer model. And later this year, the $1.7-billion new terminal facility will open to the public.
“This important recognition is an honor for me and my entire team at the Allegheny County Airport Authority,” Cassotis said. “Every day we strive to enhance the travel experience and redefine the role of airports in the communities they serve, so those communities can have a bigger impact on the world. People are at the heart of everything we do, and being named Airport Director of the Year by Airport Experience News is a testament to the dedication and the unwavering support of our partners and staff. I am incredibly grateful for this honor and excited for the future progress we will continue to make together.”
Cassotis is the second of three directors of the year to be named by AXN for 2025. Last week, AXN announced the selection of Perry Miller of Richmond International Airport as the Director of the Year, Small Airports Division. The selection for large airport category will be revealed in the coming weeks. All will be featured in a special Leadership Issue of Airport Experience News and will be honored at the 2026 Airport Experience Conference.
