AIRMALL® and Pittsburgh International Airport Celebrate Completion of Newly Renovated Center Core with Special Event, Fashion Show

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, September 29, The AIRMALL at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) joined Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and the Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA) for FLY2014, a special event that marked the 15^th anniversary of the ACAA and celebrated the completion of a $10 million renovation that created a new retail core in the Center Core of the airport's airside terminal.  The renovation was designed to reconfigure the layout of new retail units to address changes in passenger traffic and put stores squarely in the path of millions of travelers every year.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7344751-airmall-pittsburgh-international-airport-celebrate-newly-renovated-center-core-fly2014-event/

Representatives from Fraport AG, the new parent company of AIRMALL USA, also attended the event and were excited to be a part of a day that celebrated AIRMALL's innovative vision to transform the airport into a destination for high-fashion, beauty and delicious food. 

The special event began with a ribbon cutting ceremony in the airport's Center Core.  Later, attendees had the chance to meet Carmindy, author and resident makeup artist on TLC's hit show "What Not to Wear."  Carmindy also shared beauty tips and offered makeovers to a few lucky guests from the audience.  The festivities continued with the airport's first runway fashion show featuring the latest styles for men and women from AIRMALL shops, followed by a book signing event with Carmindy. In addition, travelers and attendees enjoyed live music as well as complimentary breakfast and hors d'oeuvres served throughout the day. 

"As a vital part of our regional economy, Pittsburgh International Airport has always set the standard for high-quality shopping and dining when you're traveling," said Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County executive.  "We welcome these new brands to the region as we also welcome flights to new destinations. We are thrilled by an increase in travelers over the last several months and we encourage our flying public to take advantage of these exciting offerings."

"This fall marks the Allegheny County Airport Authority's 15th anniversary," said State Senator Matt Smith, board member, Allegheny County Airport Authority. "It is fitting that we commemorate this milestone with a renovation that complements the Authority's ongoing efforts to increase flights and amenities for business and leisure travelers as well as promote economic development for the Pittsburgh region. This project is yet another source of pride for the airport and AIRMALL as we usher in an exciting new chapter in our shared history."

"FLY2014 was the culmination of a multi-phase renovation project that brings an assortment of high-end international brands to the airport and creates a shopping destination like no other," said Jay Kruisselbrink, senior vice president, AIRMALL USA.  "For the past two decades, the AIRMALL at PIT has set the standard for airport concessions, and our latest project further exemplifies our commitment to constantly raising the bar for the passenger experience by creating an easily accessible environment for travelers to shop and dine in while at the airport.  We anticipate that these latest renovations to the concessions program will help the AIRMALL and Pittsburgh International Airport maintain our status as industry innovators."

AIRMALL has completed a $10 million renovation that has transformed the airport into a new and exciting gateway for food and fashion.  The project created a new retail core in the center of the airside terminal.  The new retail stores include international luxury brands, including Italian-based Pinko, which opened its first U.S. store in the AIRMALL. Other stores include Furla, Lacoste, Armani Jeans, Hugo Boss, Tumi, Spanish-based Desigual, Collezioni-The Beauty Gallery and Bottega dei Sapori, an Italian specialty foods store.  The new units join a host of other new brands at the AIRMALL at PIT, including Metalsmiths Sterling, Erwin Pearl, Pinkberry and Green Beans Coffee.

AIRMALL expects the enhanced concessions program will grow annual revenue by as much as 10 to 20 percent over current figures. The new concessions project also came with a contract extension for AIRMALL, which will continue its role as the concessions developer and manager at the airport through 2029.  The changes to the retail program will also enable Pittsburgh to maintain its enviable status as the top-performing airport concessions program in the country with among the highest per-passenger spends in North America. 

For more information on AIRMALL USA, visit www.airmallusa.com.  Like us on Facebook at the AIRMALL at Pittsburgh International Airport, and follow the AIRMALL at PIT on Twitter at @airmallpit.

About AIRMALL® USA
AIRMALL® USA is the developer and manager of the retail, food and beverage operations at Pittsburgh International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport (terminals B and E), Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.  The leading airport concessions model in North America, AIRMALL USA continues to boast among the highest per-passenger spends on the continent and consistently receives accolades for innovation and customer service.  For more information on AIRMALL USA, visit www.airmallusa.com.  

About Fraport AG and Frankfurt Airport
Fraport AG – which ranks among the world's leading companies in the global airport business – offers a full range of integrated airport management services. Boasting subsidiaries and investments on four continents, in 2013, the Fraport Group generated sales of €2.56 billion, EBITDA of €880.2 million and a profit of about €236 million. Last year, more than 103 million passengers used airports around the world in which Fraport has a majority stake.

At its Frankfurt Airport (FRA) home base, Fraport welcomed more than 58 million passengers in 2013 and handled some 2.1 million metric tons of cargo (airfreight and airmail). For the current flight timetable, FRA is served by 108 passenger airlines flying to some 295 destinations in 105 countries worldwide. More than half of FRA's destinations are intercontinental (beyond Europe) – underscoring Frankfurt's role as a leading hub in the global air transportation system. In Europe, Frankfurt Airport ranks first in terms of cargo tonnage and is the third-busiest for passenger traffic. With well over 50 percent of all passengers using Frankfurt as a connecting hub, FRA also has the highest transfer rate among the major European hubs.

Frankfurt Airport City has become Germany's largest job complex at a single location, employing more than 78,000 people at about 500 companies and organizations directly on site. The FRA Airport City also serves as a magnet for other companies located throughout the economically vital Frankfurt/Rhine-Main-Neckar region. Thanks to synergies associated with the region's dynamic and diverse industries, plus networked expertise and outstanding intermodal transportation infrastructure. Frankfurt Airport meets the increasing needs of the flourishing export-oriented economies of the State of Hesse as well as Germany as a whole, for optimal connections to growth markets around the globe. Likewise, FRA is also a strategic gateway for companies wanting to access the huge European marketplace. Thus, Frankfurt Airport – which is strategically located in the heart of Europe, is one of the most important hubs in the world and a major infrastructure site for Germany and Europe. Major new real estate developments – such as The Squaire, the Gateway Gardens business park, and the Mönchhof Logistics Park, etc. – are creating an exciting new dimension and range of services at the evolving Frankfurt Airport City of the 21st century.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7344751-airmall-pittsburgh-international-airport-celebrate-newly-renovated-center-core-fly2014-event/

SOURCE AIRMALL USA