• by Fern Siegel , November 14, 2018

In 2017, there were more than 7,000 stories that mentioned Pittsburgh International Airport, up 53% since 2015.

That was an added impetus to launch BlueSkyPIT.com, the Pittsburgh International Airport’s in-house news service. It offers news, features and travel information from a Pennsylvania airport that services 9 million passengers yearly.

Subjects range from the arts to airlines, safety to terminal modernization. The site is updated daily; the company estimates initial reach to exceed 100,000 people.

The target audience — passengers, airlines, concession providers, community partners and airport stakeholders — can read Blue Sky via its site, a free weekly e-newsletter and Pittsburgh airport’s social-media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

To date, the publication is ad-free.

 “This is naturally the next step in the airport’s evolution as a world-leader in aviation,” stated Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis. “We want to communicate directly with travelers and the public, unfiltered.”

Blue Sky offers behind-the-scenes coverage about airlines and aviation trends, as well as those transforming the Pittsburgh airport and region. The debut issue includes articles on airport sculptures, therapy dogs and prepping for winter storms.

Executive editor Paul O’Rourke said the pub illustrates the excitement and evolution in aviation. Blue Sky will also highlight news and events from around Pittsburgh to interest visitors.

Pittsburgh International Airport joins other companies that have taken news distribution in-house. The Pittsburgh Penguins, Coca-Cola, Disney, American Express and Adobe are among those that have launched their own sites.