Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis Gets $240,300 Bonus for Her Work Last Year

Jan. 20—Driven in part by the return and expansion of British Airways nonstop to London, the Allegheny County Airport Authority has awarded CEO Christina Cassotis a $240,300 bonus for her work in 2022.

Authority board members on Friday unanimously approved the bonus, which represents 45% of the airport executive's 2022 salary of $534,000. As part of her contract, Ms. Cassotis also will receive a 6% raise, boosting her 2023 salary to $566,040.

In a statement accompanying the vote, board Chairman David Minnotte said Ms. Cassotis had "met or exceeded each of the performance goals" required in her contract to secure the bonus.

As CEO, Ms. Cassotis oversees operations at Pittsburgh International Airport in Findlay and at Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin.

"She and her team think big — and leverage all assets of our airports to drive economic impact for the region," Mr. Minnotte said, describing the bonus as "well-deserved."

Among her achievements, Mr. Minnotte cited the return of British Airways nonstop between Pittsburgh and London last June after a 27-month hiatus caused by the pandemic.

He also mentioned the decision by the airline to expand the service from four days a week to six by this May after Ms. Cassotis led a delegation to London in October to lobby for more flights.

Other accomplishments Mr. Minnotte cited included:

—Continuing to add new routes at Pittsburgh International, with available seats nearing pre-pandemic levels.

—Breaking ground on a new facility that will increase the airport's cargo capacity.

—Saving more than $1 million in utility costs while cutting carbon emissions by more than 8 million pounds in the first year of the airport's microgrid operation.

—Continuing to grow the Neighborhood 91 additive manufacturing venture on airport land.

—Investing in the airport's xBridge Innovation Center to highlight the region's tech industry.

Mr. Minnotte also lauded Ms. Cassotis for leading the authority's transformation and building a "high-performing team culture" while overseeing the airport's $1.4 billion modernization that includes plans to build a new terminal for ticketing, security and baggage claim.

Ms. Cassotis' salary this year likely will keep her among the highest paid airport executives in the country. An informal survey by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette last year found that her salary in 2022 was higher than leaders of some of the biggest airports in the country in terms of passengers in pre-pandemic 2019.

In his remarks Friday, Mr. Minnotte said that her compensation "is in line with what other airports nationally and internationally are paying to secure and keep top talent."

"We also need to recognize the intense competition for talent that is underway across the country. In order to keep top people, salaries must be reflective of their work," he said.

After the vote, Ms. Cassotis told the board that she is "always humbled to hear you support the work that we're doing."

"I really appreciate, Mr. Chairman, you reflecting the fact that this is not just me. I was a catalyst but the team here and the team that we've been able to attract is amazing and they're doing things I could never have imagined," she said.

"I am grateful to have this opportunity to make an impact on this region and to do that under the leadership of a board that gets it and quite frankly gives a shit ... and that is really focused on the big picture," she said.

Last year, Ms. Cassotis received a performance bonus of $184,500, or 45% of her 2021 salary. The board at the time also increased her pay to $534,000 and extended her contract two years through 2027.

Her salary this year represents a 6% jump over last year. Under her contract, Ms. Cassotis is entitled to a 6% increase each year. The airport executive's pay is part of the authority's budget, which is funded mainly through fees and charges paid by the airlines. No local tax dollars are involved.

The bonus was approved the same day Ms. Cassotis reported that airport traffic last year had hit about 83% of the pre-pandemic 2019 level.

"We're doing well. We're very pleased with what's happened so far," she said.

This year, the authority is estimating passenger traffic will return to 90% of pre-pandemic levels. In 2024, it hopes to be all the way back.

Mark Belko: [email protected] or 412-263-1262.

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