When Christina Cassotis took over the Allegheny County Airport Authority, she didn’t waste time pretending everything was fine. She walked into the boardroom, looked at decades of “hub nostalgia,” and declared the era officially over. The hub was gone. It wasn’t coming back. And she wasn’t interested in pretending otherwise.

That honesty shook Pittsburgh. But it also saved it.

Now, as the city eagerly awaits the grand opening of the new Pittsburgh International Airport terminal in fall 2025, we’re not just getting a new place to fly from. We’re getting a masterclass in business reinvention.

At Blue Archer, we help organizations navigate their own versions of this transformation. We translate evolving business models into digital experiences that actually fit who they’ve become. The airport’s story is a playbook in how to do it right.

1. Let Go of the Hub That Was

Cassotis had to “drive a stake through the heart of the hub.” Her words, not ours. Pittsburghers were clinging to a vision of the airport that no longer existed, the buzzing US Airways days when connection meant changing planes, not building community.

Sound familiar? Many businesses hold on to old structures, old audiences, and old websites that reflect who they used to be. The hardest part of growth isn’t strategy. It’s acceptance.

Cassotis’ first move was to admit what wasn’t working and build for what was. The same logic applies in digital strategy. You can’t scale modern operations on a website that belongs in another decade.

Letting go isn’t loss. It’s leadership.

2. Build for Who You Are Today

The new terminal isn’t trying to mimic Atlanta or O’Hare. It’s designed for Pittsburgh. The rolling roofline echoes our hills, the art is local, and the restaurants are homegrown. It’s a love letter to Western Pennsylvania that also happens to move 10 million people a year efficiently through security.

Cassotis built an airport that feels like it belongs here. That’s the business lesson: identity is an advantage.

The same goes for your digital presence. At Blue Archer, we’ve seen that the most effective websites don’t chase trends; they reflect truth. Your story, your audience, your rhythm. When your digital space feels like an authentic extension of who you are right now, it naturally attracts the right passengers.

3. Rebuild the Systems Beneath the Surface

Most travelers won’t see the new terminal’s four miles of roadways or its redesigned baggage system, which has been reduced from eight miles of conveyor belts to three. But they’ll feel it. Faster arrivals, smoother movement, less stress.

Good systems work quietly. Bad ones make themselves known.

For businesses, that means strengthening the foundations before the flash: operations, processes, and technology. In digital terms, that’s your website infrastructure. Speed, security, accessibility, and SEO. A strong backend makes every customer experience smoother, even if no one sees the code behind it.

If Cassotis can eliminate an entire tram system to improve flow, you can probably delete a few unnecessary plugins.

4. Innovate with Intention

The new Pittsburgh International won’t just look impressive. It will work smarter. The airport will run on its own microgrid powered by natural gas and solar energy, making it the first major U.S. airport to achieve full energy independence. That’s not a publicity stunt. It’s purpose-driven innovation.

Real innovation isn’t about chasing what’s shiny. It’s about fixing what’s clunky.

At Blue Archer, we talk to a lot of business owners who want new features, but we always start with why. Because innovation without intention is just noise. The best upgrades serve both the customer and the bottom line. Whether it’s an airport or a website, design should always make life easier for the people who use it.

5. Lead Boldly, Even When It’s Uncomfortable

Cassotis didn’t win a popularity contest. She scrapped seniority-based promotions, changed long-standing systems, and challenged every assumption about how things “had always been done.” She also got results.

She once said, “My job is literally to kick over rocks.” Every Pittsburgh business can relate. Growth requires disruption.

In leadership, and in design, clarity often looks like confrontation. Saying no to what doesn’t serve the mission. Removing the clutter. Choosing simplicity over legacy.

That same courage applies online. A modern, minimal, purpose-driven website doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when someone says, “We’re not doing it the old way anymore.”

6. Build the Future with the Community

More than 80 percent of the new terminal’s art comes from local artists. The project itself was designed and constructed largely by regional teams. It’s global-class infrastructure built with Pittsburgh hands.

That’s a blueprint for every thriving local business: grow with your community, not apart from it.

At Blue Archer, we’ve seen how brands that center local collaboration, whether it’s spotlighting customer stories or partnering with nearby creators, tend to build stronger loyalty. People invest in what reflects them.

The airport isn’t just connecting flights. It’s connecting people. That’s good design in any industry.

7. Your Front Door Tells the Whole Story

Cassotis described the terminal as “Pittsburgh’s front door.” And what a front door it’s shaping up to be, intuitive, bright, and full of local character.

Every business has a front door too. Maybe it’s your storefront. Maybe it’s your website. Maybe it’s that first Google search result. Whatever it is, it sets the tone before anyone ever shakes your hand.

When we design websites at Blue Archer, that’s the mindset we bring. A digital front door should welcome people in, not make them double-check the address.

Whether you’re greeting travelers or customers, the goal is the same: to make the first impression feel like home.

8. Sustainable Isn’t Just About Energy

PIT’s sustainability story is headline-worthy. A self-powered airport that can run independently, come what may. But the deeper message is resilience. Cassotis built a system that can stand on its own, no matter the turbulence.

For businesses, sustainability means the same thing: creating systems that last.

In the digital world, that means a website that can evolve with you. One that’s easy to update, flexible to scale, and built on solid foundations. Think of it as your own microgrid: independent, efficient, and designed to endure.

9. The Courage to Redesign

The Pittsburgh International Airport didn’t need another facelift. It needed a reset. And that’s exactly what it’s getting, not just a physical transformation but a philosophical one.

That courage to rethink, rebuild, and reintroduce yourself to the world is something every business leader should be watching closely. Cassotis didn’t just reinvent an airport. She redefined a mindset.

Maybe that’s the biggest takeaway of all. Pittsburgh’s best chapters start when someone decides it’s time to do things differently.

Ready for Your Terminal Moment?

The countdown to the new Pittsburgh International Airport terminal is on, and the excitement feels contagious. It’s a symbol of everything our region does best: reinvention with substance, pride without pretense, progress that actually works.

If your business is at that same inflection point, staring down the next version of itself, maybe it’s time to start your own redesign.

At Blue Archer, we help Pittsburgh organizations build their next chapter online. We design websites and marketing strategies that capture who you are now and where you’re headed next.

If your digital front door doesn’t reflect the business you’ve become, let’s change that.

Request a proposal today and let’s build the runway for your next takeoff!