Government Relations Team Assists Pittsburgh International Airport to Become First in Nation To Allow Non-Ticketed Passengers to AirMall & Gates

Beginning September 5, Pittsburgh International Airport will be the first airport in the U.S. to allow people without tickets to bid farewell or welcome family and friends at the gate, as well as access the airport's AirMall, thanks to a pilot program called "myPITpass." This concept is the result of a 3-year long effort led by Bob Shuster, Shareholder and Co-Chair of the firm's State and Federal Government Relations practice and Terry Heubert, Principal, Government Relations, in collaboration with Christina Cassotis, Pittsburgh International Airport CEO, and Vince Gasteb, Vice President of Government & Community Affairs, to persuade Congress and federal regulators to open PIT's AirMall shopping area to non-ticketed passengers. The award-winning AirMall, which includes trendy shops and restaurants, has been closed to all non-ticketed persons since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.

In 2014, the team first gained TSA approval to allow non-flyer holiday shoppers to access the amenities for one day. Now, with appropriate security measures in place, the new "myPITpass" opens the AirMall's unique stores and restaurants to local residents and allows people to once again escort friends and family to the gate. Non-travelers will go through the same security protocol as ticket-holders and will be given a pass to access the amenities along the boarding terminal.

Read more in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Non-Flyers Will Have Access to AirMall at Pittsburgh International Airport."