Christina Cassotis is redefining airport leadership at a time of sweeping change across the aviation industry. As CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority, which operates Pittsburgh International Airport and Allegheny County Airport, she is one of just four women in North America leading a major airport. Aviation runs in her DNA. The daughter of a Marine Corps fighter pilot who later flew commercial routes for Pan Am, Cassotis grew up immersed in the world of flight. She went on to build her own aviation career, from working at Boston Logan International Airport to leading global consulting teams before taking the helm in Pittsburgh.
Since becoming CEO, Cassotis has transformed Pittsburgh International into one of the nation’s most innovative and fastest-growing airports. She has expanded nonstop destinations, recruited new domestic and international carriers — including the return of British Airways service to London Heathrow — and helped drive passenger traffic up 25% over the past decade. Under her leadership, the airport also became the first major airport in the world powered entirely by its own natural gas and solar microgrid and recently opened a $1.57 billion terminal developed without taxpayer funding. Bizwomen recently spoke with Cassotis about leadership, innovation and navigating change in one of the world’s most dynamic industries.
Read more at Pittsburgh Business Times.
Originally published: March 9, 2026
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