AIRMALL USA, the leading airport concessions developer in North America and operator of the AIRMALL at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), is establishing a new address for luxury brands and high fashion in the North American airport industry. Airest Collezioni, an international travel retail operator based in Italy, recently forged a seven-year agreement with AIRMALL to open up to eight new units at the AIRMALL at PIT.

"Airest Collezioni is responsible for bringing the most enviable life

style and fashion brands to airports in cities such as Venice, Dublin, Moscow and Glasgow," said Jay Kruisselbrink , vice president of development for AIRMALL USA. "Their global reach and their relationships with the top brands worldwide make them the perfect partner for us as we transform the concessions program at Pittsburgh International Airport."

"Pittsburgh is the first North American operation for our business – with more soon to follow – and the AIRMALL at PIT is the ideal location for Airest Collezioni in 2013," added Monica Scarpa, CEO of Airest S.p.A., the parent company of Airest Collezioni.  

Airest Collezioni will tap into its portfolio of global brands to bring men's and women's fashion and accessories, fragrances and more to the terminal at PIT.  The new stores (10,000 square feet total) will be located in the Center Core, which is situated in the Airside Terminal and receives all departing and arriving passengers.   

The new stores are part of a $10-million upgrade to the AIRMALL at PIT, a yearlong construction project that will result in the most significant overhaul of the concessions program since the airport opened in 1992.  Phase one of the construction project began in January.

Once the program is fully operational, AIRMALL expects the enhanced concessions program will grow annual revenue by as much as 10 to 20 percent over current figures.

"When we first launched the AIRMALL in Pittsburgh more than 20 years ago, we were the first to introduce some of the top brands to the airport terminal," Kruisselbrink added. "Thanks to our relationship with Airest Collezioni, we're poised to set the bar for high-end retail in the airport once again.  In the coming months, we look forward to sharing some of the brand names that passengers can expect to see when they take off or land."