Airports Council International Supports Auckland Airport’S Infrastructure Plans And Commerce Commission’S Pricing Decision

Airport world

Asq Airport Experience Awards: Going The Extra MileAirports across the globe have been recognised for their customer service excellence in ACI’s ASQ Airport Experience Awards, writes Joe Bates. ACI World’s 2024 ASQ Airport Experience Awards have revealed last year’s top performing airports for the delivery of outstanding customer service. The roll of honour includes airports handling less than two million passengers per annum up to some of the biggest hubs on the planet, such as Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL), which welcomed 87.8 million and 108 million passengers respectively in 2024. Dakar Blaise Diagne (DSS), Casablanca Mohammed V Airport (CMN) and Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) were the star performers in Africa and Salalah Airport (SLL) and Muscat (MCT) in the Middle East. In the ultra competitive rest of the world, the 2024 winners included Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN), Incheon (ICN) and Delhi-Indira Gandhi (DEL) in Asia-Pacific; iGA Istanbul (IST) and Rome Fiumicino (FCO) in Europe; Chihuahua (CUU), Guadalajara (GDL) and Quito (UIO) in Latin America-Caribbean; and Toronto Pearson (YYZ), LaGuardia (LGA) and Tampa (TPA) in North America. The awards are viewed as the benchmark for excellence in airport customer experience as they are decided by passengers interviewed at airports on the day of travel. Carried out in partnership with travel technology company Amadeus, the 2024 awards covered six different categories – Best Airports by Size and Region; Most Dedicated Staff; Easiest Airport Journey; Most Enjoyable Airport; Cleanest Airport; and Top Airports for Arrivals. ACI World’s director general, Justin Erbacci, noted: “In today’s fast-evolving world, where passenger expectations are higher than ever, airports must continually push the boundaries of service to stay ahead. “The 2024 ASQ Awards honour airports that create memorable, seamless experiences that transform the entire passenger journey and help shape the future of air travel.” With the exception of the global Top Airports for Arrivals category – which was shared by Bengaluru-Kempegowda (BLR), Bahrain (BAH), Mangaluru (IXE) and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH) – all the ASQ categories were regionalised. Commenting on BAH’s success in the Top Airports for Arrivals Award, Bahrain Airport Company’s CEO, Mohamed Yousif Al-Binfalah, noted: “This ASQ Award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire BAC team and our valued partners. “We are proud to be recognised by ACI for our commitment to delivering a world-class arrival experience for our passengers. This achievement reflects our ongoing efforts to enhance every aspect of the passengers’ journey, from the moment they step off the plane to the time they leave the airport.” North America The Best in Size and Region category for North America followed a similar pattern to recent years in terms of the winners. ATL, DFW and YYZ, for example, again triumphed in the Over 40mppa; LaGuardia (LGA) in the 25-40mppa; and Dallas Love Field (DAL) and Tampa (TPA) sharing the honours for airports handling 15-25mppa. “Travelling through DFW isn’t just about getting from one place to another – it’s about experiencing exceptional service at every step,” stated DFW’s executive vice president for revenue management and customer experience, Ken Buchanan. “The ASQ award reflects our team’s dedication to making every journey smooth, enjoyable and memorable for our customers. This continued recognition from our customers highlights the impact of our investments in innovation, infrastructure and people – which together create exceptional airport experiences every day.” While ATL’s interim general manager, Jan Lennon, noted: “This award is a reflection of the dedication of our incredible airport team, whose passion and commitment make ATL a world-class gateway for millions of travellers. “Every journey that begins or ends at ATL is shaped by the hard work and hospitality of our employees. This recognition fuels our mission to set new standards of excellence, ensuring that every passenger who walks through our doors experiences exemplary customer service.” Other big winners were Gerald R Ford International Airport (GRR) and Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) and Portland International Jetport (PWM), which in addition to repeating their success in the Best in Size category, jointly shared all the other awards for airports in North America handling between 2-5mppa. GRR’s president and CEO, Tory Richardson, said: “We are delighted to once again receive these ASQ awards, acknowledging our efforts to offer a world-class guest experience at the Ford International Airport. “In 2024, we experienced record growth with more than four million passengers served and are beyond grateful to our staff and partners for helping provide an exceptional travel experience throughout our facility.” Other Best by Size winners included Canadian gateways St John’s (YYT) and Victoria (YYJ) for airport handling Under 2mppa and perennial winners Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG), Indianapolis (IND) and Louis Armstrong-New Orleans (MSY) in the 5-15mppa category. Asia-Pacific & Middle East Asia-Pacific and the Middle East regions once again led the way in ACI’s annual ASQ Airport Experience Awards, winning a total of 68 accolades across the different categories. Indeed, ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East airports accounted for 35 of the 95 award winning airports recognised by passengers for delivering the best customer experience on the planet. Familiar names on the winner’s podium included the big international hubs of Beijing Daxing (PKX), Delhi-Indira Gandhi (DEL), Incheon (INC), Shanghai Pudong (PVG) and Singapore Changi (SIN). But the awards also recognised excellence in airport customer experience at some of the smaller and less known airports across Asia-Pacific, such as Pattimura (AMQ) and Supadio (PNK) in Indonesia, Kannur (CNN) in India, and Zhangjiakou (ZQZ) in China. This year, 10 airports from Indonesia won awards across the categories, while eight airports from China and seven from India were recognised for service excellence. Other awards were assigned to airports in South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines, while in the Middle East, six airports were recognised, including two from Oman and one from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. Talking about DEL’s achievement in being among the eight gateways to be recognised in the Best by Size category for airports handling Over 40mppa in Asia-Pacific, CEO, Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive this recognition. “This award reflects our continuous efforts to elevate the travel experience at Delhi International Airport. “From seamless processes to exceptional passenger service, all with a constant focus on sustainability, our dedicated team and stakeholders work relentlessly to ensure every passenger’s journey is smooth and memorable. “This award is further validation of our ongoing commitment to improving the passenger experience, enhancing operational excellence, and promoting Delhi International Airport as an aviation hub welcoming travellers from around the globe.” Oman’s Muscat (MCT) and Salalah (SLL) effectively enjoyed a clean sweep in the Middle East, winning multiple awards across all the categories, although SLL had to share the Best Airport by Size and Region award for airports handling Under 2mppa with Najran Airport (EAM) in Saudi Arabia. Acting CEO of Oman Airports, Hamoud bin Musbah Al Alawi, enthused:“We prioritise passenger comfort at Oman Airports as MCT and SLL serve as the first gateway for travellers arriving in the Sultanate of Oman and the final touchpoint before their departure. “Ensuring high-quality service is a core principle within Oman Airports’ operational framework. Since the establishment of our operations, we have defined clear operational guidelines for all employees to ensure that passengers remain our top priority at all times. Today, we are witnessing the rewards of these continuous efforts after years of dedicated work.” Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) shared the award for Most Enjoyable Airport in the Middle East with Salalah. Nicolas Deviller, CEO of Queen Alia operator, Airport International Group (AIG), noted: “Since the inauguration of the Terminal Building 12 years ago, we have continuously adapted to the evolving needs of our passengers, ensuring that QAIA remains synonymous with comfort and enjoyment and a place where passengers feel at home from the moment they arrive. “These achievements are a reflection of the dedication of our entire airport community, whose collective efforts have once again been recognised by those who matter most – our passengers. We sincerely thank them for their trust and recognition.” Africa South Africa’s Bram Fischer (BFN) and George (GRJ) airports along with Ivato (TNR) in Madagascar were named Best Airport by Size in the Under 2mppa category. Dakar Blaise Diagne (DSS) in Senegal and Sri Lanka’s Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) shared the 2-5mppa award and Morocco’s Casablanca (CMN) and Marrakech (RAK) airports took the 5-15mppa prize. Between them CMN and DSS shared all the other award categories for Africa with the exception of Easiest Airport Journey, which was won by Dakar Blaise Diagne and George. Europe Rome Fiumicino’s success in every Departures category for Europe in the 2024 ASQ Awards should come as no surprise to anyone based on its levels of innovation, particularly when it comes to embracing new technology to enhance the customer experience. Operator, Aeroporti de Roma (ADR), notes that it is the eighth year in a row that FCO has been named Best by Size for airports in Europe handling Over 40mppa. And it wasn’t the only Rome airport to win, as Rome Ciampino (CIA) finished joint top in the 2-5mppa section. ADR CEO, Marco Troncone, commented: “Once again, this year, Fiumicino and Ciampino airports received international recognitions or the quality and the services offered to passengers. “These awards are increasingly significant and not to be taken for granted, reaffirming the dedication, passion and commitment of our people – as well as the efforts of all colleagues from the companies, organisations and institutions working in synergy at our airports. “Considering the traffic forecasts for this year and beyond, we are aware that maintaining this level of quality and continuously enhancing our services requires the sustainable development of Rome Fiumicino infrastructures. Thanks to major self-financed investments already underway, we aim at competing with other major hubs in our geographical area, following clear development perspectives. “This is the only way to strengthen Italy’s position as a leading global tourist destination and high-potential transit hub within the international air connectivity network.’ ADR celebrated the ASQ awards by unveiling ‘Adryx’, the new mascot of FCO and CIA, who is described as an “interstellar ambassador and an expert in quality and innovation”, who lands on Earth to discover the secret of excellence. FCO shared the award for Europe’s Best Airport by Size handling over 40mppa with iGA Istanbul. All the other Best by Size winners had at least four winners with the exception of the 15-25mppa Award – Alicante (ALC), Budapest (BUD) and Helsinki (HEL) – and 25-40mppa category, which was shared by Copenhagen (CPH), Palma de Mallorca (PMI ) and Zurich (ZRH). Commenting on HEL’s Best in Size success, Helsinki Airport director, Ulla Serlenius, enthused: “We are very proud that our work to develop the customer experience at Helsinki Airport has received international recognition year after year. “Customer satisfaction at our airport has increased over the long term, and the result for 2024 is the highest in the airport’s history. The award is a testament to our passengers’ satisfaction with the airport’s renovations. We will continue our work by listening carefully to the passengers’ requests and following the trends.” TAV Airports notes that four of its European airports received ASQ awards – Ankara Esenboğa (ESB), İzmir Adnan Menderes (ADB), Milas-Bodrum (BJV) and Skopje (SKP). Its chief operations officer, Kürşad Koçak, stated: “At TAV Airports, we are celebrating our 25th anniversary this year, and for the past 25 years, we have been committed to delivering the best travel experience for our passengers. “The Airport Service Quality awards hold special significance for us, as they are determined directly by passenger feedback. We take great pride in seeing our four airports ranked among the best worldwide in their respective categories.” Latin America-Caribbean Mexican airports fared particularly well in the 2024 survey, Guadalajara (GDL) on its own winning the Best by Size Award for 15-25mppa. In the other size categories, Monterrey (MTY) finished top for airports accommodating 5-15mppa alongside Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaria (SJO) and Ecuador’s Quito (UIO) airports; Guanajuato (BJX) and Hermosillo (HMO) shared the 2-5mppa award with Lynden Pindling (NAS) in the Bahamas; and Chihuahua (CUU) and Mazatlán (MZT) took the Under 2mppa crown with Uruguay’s Montevideo-Carrasco (MVD). VINCI Airports notes that it was the first time the OMA operated airports of Monterrey, Chihuahua and Mazatlán had participated in the ASQ Awards. They joined the VINCI Airports network two years ago. Reflecting on Quito’s ASQ success, Ramón Miró, president and CEO of Quiport: said: “This award reaffirms passengers’ trust in the quality of our services and motivates us to continue innovating to raise standards of excellence in the airport industry. “We are currently working on expanding the airport to offer greater capacity and more options for our travellers, always prioritising quality and efficiency I thank our team and the entire airport community for their dedication, effort, and commitment to providing an exceptional experience to every passenger. “This exceptional result is the outcome of meticulous planning and the collaboration of all stakeholders in the airport’s cargo community. I extend my gratitude to the airlines, operators, exporters, and our team at Quito’s cargo terminal for their dedication and hard work.” Hall of fame As a result of their performance in 2024, new inductees into the ACI World Director General’s Roll of Excellence are Alicante–Elche Airport, Beijing Daxing, Copenhagen, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport. Being inducted is one of the highest honours in the airport industry as it recognises airports that have consistently excelled in service over the past decade. Click here to view the full list of winners. The 2024 ASQ Awards Ceremony will take place at the ACI World Airport Experience Summit in Guangzhou, China, on September 8-11, 2025.

airport

11 April 2025

Airport world

Pittsburgh International Airport: Back On The MapWith a new showpiece terminal opening later this year, passenger numbers at an 18 year high, and innovation at the front and centre of its business, these are good times for Pittsburgh International Airport, writes Joe Bates. There is no doubting that Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) has gone from strength to strength over the last decade as its route network has grown, passenger numbers have soared and it has earned itself a reputation for being one of the most innovative gateways in the United States. It is also one of the most self-contained and sustainably run airports in the nation based on the fact that it is the only airport in the US to have its own microgrid, which provides 100% of its energy needs. Launched in 2021, the microgrid is powered by five natural gas-fired generators with natural gas drilled from underneath the airport site and nearly 10,000 solar panels. And true to its pioneering ways which have led to the airport establishing its own on-site innovation lab (xBridge) for developing, trialling, testing and launching new technology, and Neighborhood 91 – a 195-acre hub for additive manufacturing with goods produced on site shipped around the world – PIT is now looking at producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on the airport campus. Producing and exporting SAF on-site at PIT What’s the thinking behind PIT potential leading the way on SAF blending and production? Christina Cassotis, who celebrated her 10th anniversary as CEO of Pittsburgh International Airport in January 2025, says: “Why not? The world needs it, we want aviation to be more sustainable, and we have the perfect mix of assets and resources to make it happen. “We sit on 3,500 hectares of land, a lot of which is still open for development. We have pipelines to and from the Ohio River where we get our Jet A fuel, so we could export to the North East, New York, Boston, Washington and mid-Atlantic. “We are surrounded by millions of acres of corn production in Pennsylvania and Ohio, so we can support our farmers by turning the corn into ethanol which becomes the jet fuel. We build things in Pittsburgh, so we can do it.” The on-site production of SAF would also generate extra revenue for PIT that will help secure its future and help transition the industry to further reduce CO2 emissions. PIT is, of course, not going to invest its own money on building and operating a SAF refinery, so the undertaking would be in partnership with a third party. “We didn’t want to run a utility like our microgrid and we don’t want to run a SAF refinery. We want to enable it, be a strategic landlord and benefit from the fuel being produced here,” confirms Cassotis. There are several collaboration pathways the airport could go down when it comes to SAF production. CNX, for example, which currently extracts natural gas from the airport site, is working with KeyState Energy to develop a hydrogen hub on the airport that would allow for the production of SAF from hydrogen made from coal mine methane. PIT is also exploring the option of working with a European company that already has ASTM Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) biofuel in production and in use by the US Air Force elsewhere on the airport site. If things go well, it is possible that construction of a SAF refinery at PIT could start as early as the end of 2026. PIT’s transformation over the last decade The airport’s SAF ambitions are very real, and as PIT has proved with creating its own microgrid and countless other pioneering initiatives over the last decade, if its plans make good business sense, they almost invariably happen. After all, PIT’s reinvention under Cassotis over the last 10 years really is nothing short of remarkable, particularly when you consider that back then she noted that the airport had to adopt a new business plan and focus on a future as an O&D gateway to finally get over the loss of its status as a US Airways hub. Innovation, in all its forms, appears to have been the key driver of PIT’s new business plan to make it a better and more efficient airport, less dependent on aviation related revenue, and a key economic generator for the city and region. While the decision to let go of the idea of PIT regaining its hub status and concentrate on developing its O&D services has proved a masterstroke, with the airport accommodating 9.95 million passengers last year, the most since 2006, on the back of a much expanded route network. Putting that in some kind of perspective, when Cassotis started at PIT, the airport had service to 37 non-stop destinations across the US and Canada and handled around eight million passengers per annum. Today, the figure stands at 62 non-stop routes and includes international long-haul routes to London (British Airways) and Reykjavik (Icelandair) in Europe as PIT boasts seven more airlines that it had in 2015. So, reflecting on her 10 years at PIT, is it possible for Cassotis to say what the highs and lows have been during this time? “That’s a hard one to answer as there’s been lots of a highs and quite a few lows as we’ve faced many obstacles over the years, but I would say putting Pittsburgh back on the global stage from a aviation perspective would be the highlight, as that was always the intention,” enthuses Cassotis. She notes that passenger traffic has increased by nearly 25% since her arrival and will exceed 10 million in 2025, which it would have done last year if it wasn’t for a global IT outage that downed airline computer systems for 24 hours during the peak summer months. Cassotis cites the success of getting Pittsburgh to believe and buy into her plan to develop PIT as an O&D gateway as the major turning point for the airport and catalyst for its current growth trajectory. “I would say that my role has always been sales/business development, which started internally with getting people to believe that there were other ways we could be successful other than as a hub, which was the mindset when I got here,” she explains. “Back then the community’s understanding of success was tied to regaining our hub status with an airline. So, getting the airport team and then the community to understand that an origin and destination airport could still be a very successful business model for PIT was a really big accomplishment.” As an aside, Cassotis adds that Pittsburghers have always been fiercely proud and supportive of their airport, so much so in fact that she reveals that this enthusiasm led her to take the job in the first place. Other achievements Cassotis is proud of PIT achieving in the first decade under her watch include the creation the microgrid, the opening of a childcare centre for airport staff and the new terminal which opens for business later this year. New terminal “Built by Pittsburgh for Pittsburgh”, PIT’s new terminal will open later this year – most likely in Q4 – and is expected to take operational efficiency and customer convenience and satisfaction to new levels. The ongoing $1.57 billion new terminal programme is designed to improve facilities and create a new consolidated terminal that modernises outdated former hub facilities and just make it easier for passengers and staff to use. What that effectively means is that PIT will get a terminal designed for today’s O&D driven market and not the long gone connecting travellers that accounted for 80% of all passengers when US Airways was the hub carrier. Indeed, the de-hubbing of PIT left it with plenty of facilities that it just didn’t need any more, including eight miles of baggage belts built for transfer passengers that previously caught connecting flights across the airport campus. O&D passengers now make up 97% of PIT’s passengers, so the airport simply needs new facilities that will make journeys easier, more convenient and comfortable for passengers and the airlines. Its opening will complement improvements to PIT’s existing ‘airside’ facilities (and eliminate the half-a-mile gap between the terminals) which contain the airport’s X-shaped central core, which according to Cassotis will be gutted and completely redesigned. “The concourses are getting massive upgrades, the holdrooms, the back of the house and all the systems we couldn’t do preventative maintenance on before are being addressed now, so it’s a lot of fun out there right now,” jokes Cassotis. According to PIT, the main goals of the new terminal programme include reducing passenger wait and walk times, shortening baggage delivery times, improving the international arrivals process, reducing operations and maintenance costs, providing more public parking spaces and making the airport more efficient and sustainable overall. Some examples of the improved airport experience the new terminal will bring for passengers include one central security checkpoint instead of the existing two in different buildings, and separate levels for Arrivals and Departures. It is hoped that the terminal will also end the current confusion passengers face on exiting the airport due to ongoing development work and the confusing layout of existing facilities that sometimes means that arriving passengers have to travel between different levels just to get outside. In March, it was announced that the construction of the new terminal was 85% complete, ensuring that the facility is on target to open as planned in the second half of 2025. Guided by the core principles of nature, technology and community, the key design features of the new terminal include: Prioritising enhancing the passenger experience through a range of design features, the new terminal’s Universal Access features include raised crosswalks with improved lighting, accessible-height ticketing counters, digital wayfinding that offers both visual and audio cues, intuitive layouts to simplify navigation, and outdoor spaces with biophilic design elements. These enhancements are said to build on Pittsburgh International Airport’s established commitment to inclusivity, best illustrated by Presley’s Place – one of the USA’s first comprehensive sensory rooms designed for travellers with autism and other sensory sensitivities. The airport believes that facilities like Presley’s Place signal what the future of air travel could look like with regards to being more welcoming and supportive for all passengers. Cassotis has no doubt that the new terminal will usher in a new era for PIT in terms of operational efficiency, customer service levels and even people’s perceptions of the airport. “It will be transformative,” enthuses Cassotis. “Every single part of our business will change. The equipment it will utilise will allow us to operate more efficiently and give us data that we never had before to make decisions and do predictive maintenance. “The new terminal will allow us to do a better job of taking care of staff and passengers. Passengers will enjoy shorter walk times and be guided on their journeys by more intuitive wayfinding. It will be a much more pleasant experience.” It will also be one of only a handful of airport terminals in the US to have outdoor terraces airside, which like its landside counterparts, will be accessible to all passengers. Worthy of note is the fact that 16,000 tons of locally fabricated steel have been used in the terminal’s construction. Energy efficient The terminal itself is designed around using less energy for heating and cooling through the orientation of the terminal, strategic building overhangs and materials used in construction. Like the rest of the airport, it will be powered by PIT’s microgrid, which means that the airport is 100% self sufficient in terms of energy supply and able to continue operating if the local grid goes down for whatever reason. On the reverse side of the coin, it also has the capability to switch to the traditional power grid if it experiences issues with its own microgrid. An added bonus of the microgrid is that it has reduced PIT’s carbon emissions by six million pounds a year, and saved the airport around $1.5 million annually in utility costs. Passenger growth, routes and destinations As mentioned earlier, Pittsburgh International Airport handled 9.95 million passengers in 2024 – 8.1% more than the previous year and 166,000 passengers more than in pre-pandemic 2019. The airport attributes the upturn, and first time it has exceeded pre-COVID levels, to a record number of Pittsburghers travelling through PIT, with over 9.7 million travellers recorded to have started or ended their trips in Pittsburgh last year. It’s the highest origin-and-destination (O&D) figure in the airport’s history. What’s more, PIT’s international traffic surpassed 195,000 international passengers in 2024, a 30% increase from 2023, boosted by Icelandair launching seasonal service to Reykjavik, Iceland, in May and British Airways’ continued growth on its year-round service to London Heathrow. And international travel in Pittsburgh is expected to grow again in 2025 as British Airways will upgrade frequency to London Heathrow to a daily service starting March 30, and Icelandair will resume its seasonal Reykjavik service a month earlier in 2025, with flights returning on April 17. “Pittsburgh is a market that responds to the air service that comes in and gives it the passenger numbers that it needs, so we are constantly adding destinations or increasing frequency or aircraft capacity on existing ones,” enthuses Cassotis. “When I got here, I looked at the map of destinations served from Pittsburgh and thought, wow, the West Coast is missing! That’s no longer the case today.” In terms of the overall traffic, PIT’s increasingly diverse mix of domestic routes shows that the top airlines at the airport in terms of market share are Southwest (26%) and American Airlines (24%) – the former accommodating the most passengers and the latter the most daily flights – followed by Delta (18%); United (14%); and Spirit (12%). When we last spoke in early 2016, Cassotis mentioned that she hoped that in five to ten years PIT would see the return of international flights to Europe and the introduction of a Gulf carrier to serve the Gulf region and beyond. BA and Icelandair have, of course, now ticked the Europe box, but Cassotis is not overly celebrating as she feels that there is scope for more services, mentioning Germany and Amsterdam in the Netherlands as potential new routes. She is, however, still looking for a Gulf carrier. Cassotis says: “I have not given up on a Gulf carrier as we believe that we can support traffic to the region because of our Indian market and the cargo potential of the route. As you know, it often takes years for a new route to happen, and we are playing the long game.” Innovation and new technology When talking about innovation and ‘smart airports’, Cassotis is quick to point out that it is about more than just technology, encompassing everything from inspiring new retail/F&B offerings and route development to the opening of a childcare centre for airport staff. “Innovation certainly isn’t always tied to technology,” she notes. “In my opinion, the definition of innovation means doing something better than before, that it makes sense, and everybody benefits from it.” Having said that, new technology that will aid airport operations as well as passenger journeys is certainly high on the agenda for PIT, which is perhaps not surprising considering Pittsburgh’s status as a technology centre and the robot capital of the world. Indeed, Google, Bosch, Meta, Uber (driverless car testing), Intel and Yahoo are among thousands of technology firms based in the area and the city is home to 68 colleges and universities that include R&D leaders Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. For its part, PIT has helped bring some 30 technologies to an advanced stage at its xBridge innovation centre, located in a 10,000 square foot facility at the end of Concourse B. One of these technologies is BioFlyte, a bio-aerosol surveillance sensor that can quickly detect and identify airborne pathogens and subsequently bio-terrorism threats such as ricin, anthrax and fentanyl in the air in less than five minutes. One of these technologies is BioFlyte, a bio-aerosol surveillance sensor that can quickly detect and identify airborne pathogens and subsequently bio-terrorism threats such as ricin, anthrax and fentanyl in the air in less than five minutes. During its proof of concept at PIT, Bioflyte’s BioTOF z200 sensor was installed in an HVAC mechanical room where it collected data on return air from the terminal. Additionally, BioFlyte tested simulations of threats at PIT to prove that the sensor can detect them. It is currently deployed with the US Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and a Fortune 100 investment banking firm. Other innovations include tested at PIT via xBridge include smart recycling bins (CleanRobotics’ TrashBot), autonomous wheelchairs (Blueberry Technology Inc’s BBGo), the technology to convert regular vehicles into remote controlled cars (Mapless AI), and autonomous robots used to clean floor (Carnegie Robotics) or deliver food and beverages to passengers (Ottonomy’s Ottobot). Through xBridge the airport has a partnership with British Airways’ parent company IAG to assist it in some of the work and testing it is doing in the field of robotics. While one of the more unusual successes of xBridge has been AlgenAir’s aerium, which harnesses the natural power of algae to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) and produce oxygen (O2), combating indoor air pollution. Its first commercial-sized aerium currently sits in the baggage hall at PIT and has proved a welcome distraction for passengers waiting for their luggage. PIT notes that the broad airport ecosystem enables innovations across many industries such as parking, logistics, retail, food and beverage, customer experience, security, sustainability, building management and more. Talking specifically about xBridge, Cassotis says that it is “designed to embed innovation inside the airport, among its staff, companies and industry partners while maintaining a sense of Pittsburgh”. Explaining a little more, she comments: “xBridge is a physical centre for innovation to test two things – materials, such as the paint on columns and flooring, and technology. “On the technology side, instead of going to the robotics, AI and automation community here in Pittsburgh to say can you fix this, we have folks from xBridge who go into the start-up or robotics communities and ask them whether they’ve ever thought about using their technology in an airport. We then invite them to come to PIT and see what it can do.” Away from technology, Cassotis believes that PIT’s sensory room and more recent opening of childcare centre for the children of airport staff are two of the most high profile ways that the airport has shown innovation in other areas. The 1,500ft and now much copied sensory room, Presley’s Place, recently enjoyed its fifth anniversary, with Cassotis noting that it was actually the idea of PIT employee, Jason Rudge, who has an autistic son (Presley). While the late 2023 opening of PIT’s very own childcare centre has arguably helped PIT hold on to staff and attract others to work at the airport who otherwise wouldn’t have considered it due to child care concerns. PIT believes that providing a childcare option on the same site as an employee’s workplace helps strengthen parents’ work-life balance and supports workforce development. The goal, it says, is to break down barriers preventing working parents from starting careers at the airport. Speaking at the facility’s opening, Cassotis said: “Being a working parent and dealing with childcare issues is huge stress. This is our contribution to getting more and more working parents, more and more peace of mind, as they build careers and build families.” Forward looking, innovative, not afraid to embrace ‘out of the box thinking’, and determined to provide the best facilities it can for both passengers and staff, it can only be Pittsburgh International Airport.

airport

09 April 2025

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Airports Council International Supports Auckland Airport’S Infrastructure Plans And Commerce Commission’S Pricing Decision

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