BAA Pittsburgh awarded contract extension

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BAA Pittsburgh has announced that the board of the Allegheny County Airport Authority has voted to extend its current 15-year contract for a further ten years

Under the new master lease, BAA will manage the Airmall shops, restaurants and services at Pittsburgh International airport until the end of 2017. The original term was set to expire in 2007.

BAA USA vice president and regional director Mark Knight said, "Going forward we will devote our energy to a retail programme that continues to delight passengers, support the airport, generate jobs and grow revenue."

"This is the basis of our model for airport retail and one that has proven to be successful in Pittsburgh and in the world's largest international airport Heathrow," said Knight.

BAA Pittsburgh was one of the pioneers of the upgrade of US airport concessions in the late 1990s. It has continually developed the 110 concessions known as the Pittsburgh Airmall. The 100,000 sq ft (10,223sq m) airport retail complex has won several awards such as those conducted by Conde Nast Traveler, JD Power & Associates, OAG Worldwide, and Airport Revenue News.

As part of the new deal, BAA said it will continue its investment in the development of the airport and has committed an additional $10m in capital. "Years ago we invested $15m to develop the project. We are continuing our investment of capital and resources in Pittsburgh. It is part of our commitment as developers and partners who have a vested interest in the airport region and in the industry at large," said Knight.

• BAA USA also manages all operations of Indianapolis airport and is the master retail developer at Boston Logan airport terminals B and D/E.  UK parent company BAA also manages Mauritius airport and has taken significant shareholdings in international airports including Melbourne Australia, Launceston in Tasmania and Naples in Italy.