Logan International Airport

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General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport
IATA: BOS - ICAO: KBOS
Summary
Airport type		public
Operator		Massport
Serves		Boston, Massachusetts
Elevation AMSL		19 ft (5.8 m)
Coordinates		42°21′51.7″N, 71°0′18.7″W
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
4R/22L	10,005	3,050	Paved
4L/22R	7,861	2,396	Paved
9/27	7,000	2,134	Paved
14/32	5,000	1,550	Paved
15R/33L	10,083	3,073	Paved
15L/33R	2,557	779	Paved

Logan International Airport with aircraft taking off over the harbor

Boston's Logan International Airport from the airside lounge of Terminal E, illustrating how the airport is largely surrounded by water. In the foreground is an Aer Lingus aircraft.

General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport, (IATA: BOS, ICAO: KBOS) in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, is one of the 20 busiest airports in the U.S., with over 27 million passengers a year. It serves as a focus city for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, US Airways, and JetBlue Airways. Continental Connection also operates a small regional hub at Logan.

It covers 2,400 acres (10 km²), has six runways, and employs an estimated 16,000 people. The airport has service to destinations in the United States, as well as Canada, Latin America, and Europe. The distinctive central control tower, nearly a dozen stories high, is a local landmark with its pair of segmented elliptical pylons and a six-story platform trussed between them.

[edit] History

Originally called Boston Airport, Logan opened on September 8, 1923 and was used primarily by the Massachusetts Air Guard and the Army Air Corps. The first scheduled commercial passenger flights were initiated by Colonial Air Transport between Boston and New York City in 1927.

The airport has expanded over the years, including the addition of 1,800 acres (7 km²) built on landfill in Boston Harbor and the incorporation of the former Governors and Apple Islands. As a consequence the airport is almost entirely surrounded by water. In 1952, the airport became the first in the United States with a rapid transit connection. In 1956, the state renamed the airport as General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport after a Spanish-American War hero from South Boston.

The era of the jumbo jet began at Logan during the summer of 1970 when Pan Am inaugurated daily Boeing 747 service to London Heathrow Airport. Direct flights to London now are scheduled by British Airways, American Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic.

When Terminal E opened in 1974 it was the second largest international arrivals facility in the United States. Since that time the number of international travelers using Logan has tripled. International long-haul travel has been the fastest growing market sector at Logan and has led the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) to embark on a major airport renewal project. The international terminal at Logan has been completely modified and upgraded into an elegant and impressive facility in recent years.

To address Logan Airport's overcrowding Massport has designated Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in Manchester, New Hampshire and T. F. Green Airport in Providence, Rhode Island as the second and third airports of Boston. For a time Massport also operated the scheduled flights at Hanscom Field (BED) in Bedford, Massachusetts and Worcester Regional Airport in Worcester.

Massport's relationship with neighboring communities has been highly strained since the mid-1960s, when the agency took control (some say illegally) of a significant parcel of residential land and popular fishing area adjacent to the northwest side of the airfield. This project was undertaken to extend Runway 15R/33L, which would later become Logan's longest runway. Residents of the affected neighborhood, known as Wood Island, were bought out of their homes and forced to relocate. Public opposition came to a head when hoards of neighbors lay down in the streets in an attempt to block bulldozers and supply trucks from reaching the intended construction zone. Many area residents who were old enough at the time still harbor intense nostalgia for the former Wood Island Park, and this issue remains a primary source of the enmity that exists towards Massport.^{[citation needed]}

A November 2006 issue of the Winthrop Transcript featured a front-page article about the operations of air traffic control at Logan. The article described the inside of the Logan tower as being approximately the size of a master bedroom and staffed by eight controllers. In one corner of the room, next to a coffee pot and Danish tray, were strategically-placed large bottles of antacids. TRACON for Logan Airport is handled at a facility in Merrimack, New Hampshire, which opened in 2004 and serves most of New England's airspace.

In March 2007, the Boston Herald revealed that Massachusetts State Police personnel were the beneficiaries of a hidden perk that authorized a $40 daily stipend for troopers who commuted to work using their own vehicles, despite a sufficient inventory of take-home cruisers. Although the policy, upon public disclosure, was immediately eliminated for troopers patrolling the Massachusetts Turnpike, sources claim that a similar perk still remains in place for troopers stationed at Logan. Massport has thus far refused to confirm or deny this.^[1]

Construction has been completed on an additional runway, 14-32. This runway was first proposed in 1973, but had been delayed by court action.^[2]

A scene from the 2006 film The Departed was filmed on location at Logan, inside the skyway which connects Terminals A and E.

[edit] New runway opens

On November 23, 2006, Runway 14-32 officially opened to air traffic, Logan's first major runway in more than forty years. The new runway is unidirectional, with 32 used for landings and 14 for takeoffs. These vectors are designed to redistribute more air traffic towards the open waters of Boston Harbor located to the southeast of the airfield, though Massport has pointed out that emergency situations would not necessarily preclude overland flight paths.

Surprisingly, opposition to the construction of 14-32 had been fierce even among residents of nearby communities such as Winthrop and Revere, two areas which — by many accounts — were supposed to benefit from a reduction in noise levels once the new runway opened up. With construction now having been completed, more wrangling has erupted over guidelines governing use of the new airstrip. Local communities are aggressively pushing for a minimum runway-use threshold of 11.5-knot northwest winds, slightly higher than the 10-knot threshold espoused by Massport. There has also been heated debate over a recent FAA proposal to lower the decision height for pilots.

The new runway reduces the need for the existing Runway 15L-33R, which, at only 2,557-feet long (779 m), represents what is perhaps the shortest hard-surface runway at any major airport in the United States. In 1988, Massport had proposed an 800-foot extension to this airstrip (a project which would have required additional filling-in of land along an important clam bed), but was thwarted by a court injunction.

According to Massport records, the very first aircraft to use the new airstrip was a Continental Express ERJ 145 regional jet landing on Runway 32, on the morning of December 2, 2006.

[edit] Notable incidents

On July 31, 1973, Delta Air Lines Flight 723, operated on a DC-9 airplane, crashed into a seawall at Logan Airport, causing the deaths of all 83 passengers and 6 crew members on board. One of the passengers initially survived the accident but died in hospital.

Logan Airport was the site of the crash of a World Airways DC-10 on January 23, 1982. The aircraft overran the runway and hit the ocean, breaking in two near the cockpit. Two people were killed.

In 2001, two of the aircraft involved in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, departed from Logan Airport. Both aircraft were flown into the World Trade Center's Twin Towers of New York, destroying the buildings. United and American Airlines have mounted American flags on the gates from which the flights departed that day.

In 2005, two jet airliners nearly collided when they attempted to take off at the same time from intersecting runways.

Further information: 2005 Logan Airport runway incursion

[edit] Terminals, airlines and destinations

Runway layout at BOS

Logan International Airport has four terminals, all connected by shuttle buses and walkways. Moving walkways also connect the terminals to a central parking garage. Terminals A, C and E have their own buildings, B is split into north and south. Only Terminal E has U.S. Customs and Immigration services, so all international flights arrive here, except for those coming from locations with U.S. customs preclearance. On February 28, 2006, the Terminal D gates were renumbered and labeled as part of Terminal C. In 2007, the International Terminal E will be renamed Terminal D.

[edit] Terminal A (Delta Terminal)

Logan's newly built Terminal A, which replaced a previous building that was once occupied by Eastern Airlines,^[3] opened to passengers in March 2005. Delta operates all of the gates in the terminal, leading Boston to be a major focus city for the airline. However, some of the gates will be given up to Massport for other airline use. AirTran and Continental Airlines have both considered using the gates, but the cost of relocating would be too high^{[citation needed]}. The U.S. Green Building Council has also recognized Terminal A as a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified building, the first in the nation to be certified for this accomplishment. The 22 gates in Terminal A increase the number of gates at Logan to 102.

• Delta Air Lines (Atlanta, Bermuda, Cancún, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nassau, New York-JFK [starts April 21, 2007], Orlando, Salt Lake City, Tampa, West Palm Beach)
  • Delta Connection operated by Big Sky Airlines (Albany, Allentown/Bethlehem [begins July 15, 2007], Bangor, Fredericton [begins June 7, 2007], Long Island/Islip [begins July 15, 2007], Massena, Ogdensburg, Quebec City [begins June 7, 2007], Watertown)
  • Delta Connection operated by Chautauqua Airlines (Columbus, Norfolk, Raleigh/Durham)
  • Delta Connection operated by Comair (Baltimore/Washington, Bangor, Charleston (SC), Charlottetown [seasonal; begins June 29, 2007], Chicago-Midway [ends April 30, 2007], Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Columbus, Dayton, Fredericton, Greensboro, Halifax, Jacksonville, Nashville, New York-JFK, Newport News, Norfolk, Quebec City, Raleigh/Durham, Savannah (seasonal), Trenton, Washington-Reagan)
  • Delta Shuttle operated by Delta Air Lines (New York-LaGuardia)

[edit] Terminal B

[edit] North Pier

• American Airlines (Aruba [seasonal], Chicago-O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Manchester (UK) [seasonal], Miami, Paris-Charles de Gaulle [seasonal], Providenciales [seasonal], San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan, Santo Domingo, St. Louis, St. Thomas [seasonal])
  • American Eagle (Bangor, Columbus, Halifax, New York-JFK, New York-LaGuardia, Newark, Raleigh/Durham, St. Louis, Toronto-Pearson, Washington-Reagan)

[edit] South Pier

• Air Canada (Montréal, Toronto-Pearson)
  • Air Canada Jazz (Halifax, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto-Pearson)
• Alaska Airlines (Portland (OR) [begins September 9, 2007], Seattle/Tacoma)
• Spirit Airlines (Detroit, Myrtle Beach)
• US Airways (Aruba, Bermuda, Cancún, Charlotte, Montego Bay, Nassau, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Punta Cana, San Juan)
  • US Airways operated by America West Airlines (Las Vegas, Phoenix)
  • US Airways Shuttle operated by US Airways (New York-LaGuardia, Washington-Reagan)
  • US Airways Express operated by Air Wisconsin (Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Rochester (NY), Syracuse)
  • US Airways Express operated by Chautauqua Airlines (Buffalo, Columbus, Indianapolis, Norfolk, Pittsburgh, Richmond)
  • US Airways Express operated by Colgan Air (Albany, Augusta (ME), Bar Harbor, Hyannis, Islip, Nantucket, Presque Isle, Rockland, Syracuse, White Plains)
  • US Airways Express operated by Piedmont Airlines (Harrisburg, Syracuse)
  • US Airways Express operated by PSA Airlines (Charlotte)
  • US Airways Express operated by Republic Airlines (Indianapolis, Richmond)

[edit] Terminal C

On the night of February 28, 2006, the Terminal D gates were renumbered and labeled as part of Terminal C. Terminal E will be renamed Terminal D in 2007.^[4]

• AirTran Airways (Akron/Canton, Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, Chicago-Midway, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, Newport News/Williamsburg, Orlando, Philadelphia)
• Cape Air (Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Provincetown)
• Continental Airlines (Cleveland, Houston-Intercontinental, Newark)
  • Continental Connection operated by CommutAir (Albany, Allentown/Bethlehem, Burlington, Long Island/Islip, Plattsburgh, Rutland, Saranac Lake, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, White Plains)
  • Continental Express operated by ExpressJet Airlines (Cleveland, Newark)
• JetBlue Airways (Austin, Bermuda [begins May 1, 2007] [seasonal], Buffalo, Cancún, Charlotte [begins May 1, 2007], Columbus, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Las Vegas, Long Beach, Nassau, New York-JFK, Oakland, Orlando, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, San Francisco [begins May 3, 2007], San Jose (CA), San Juan (PR) [seasonal], Seattle/Tacoma, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Washington-Dulles)
• Midwest Airlines (Kansas City, Milwaukee)
• United Airlines (Chicago-O'Hare, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington-Dulles)
  • United Express operated by Mesa Airlines (Washington-Dulles)

[edit] Terminal E (International Terminal)

Baggage loading during a temporary closure due to heavy snow falls

Terminal E handles all international arrivals as well as the following airlines:

• Aer Lingus (Dublin, Shannon)
• Aeroméxico (Mexico City)
• Air France (Paris-Charles de Gaulle)
• Alitalia (Milan-Malpensa, Rome-Fiumicino [seasonal])
• British Airways (London-Heathrow)
• Finnair (Helsinki, Stockholm-Arlanda) [seasonal, leisure flight]
• Flyglobespan (Glasgow-International [begins May 25, 2007], Knock [begins May 30, 2007] [1])
• Iberia Airlines (Madrid) [begins May 6, 2007]
• Icelandair (Reykjavik-Kleflavik)
• Lufthansa (Frankfurt, Munich [seasonal])
• Northwest Airlines (Amsterdam, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul)
  • Northwest Airlink operated by Pinnacle Airlines (Indianapolis, Memphis)
• SATA International (Lisbon [seasonal], Terceira [seasonal], Ponta Delgada, Porto [seasonal])
• Swiss International Air Lines (Zürich)
• TACV (Praia)
• Virgin Atlantic (London-Heathrow)

[edit] Airline lounges

Since many major domestic and international airlines have a large presence at Logan, there are several airline lounges.

• Aer Lingus operates a Gold Circle Lounge in Terminal E.
• Air France operates a Salon Lounge in Terminal E.
• American Airlines operates an Admirals Club in Terminal B.
• British Airways operates a First Lounge and a Terraces Lounge in Terminal E.
• Continental Airlines operates a Presidents Club in Terminal C.
• Delta Air Lines operates Crown Room Clubs in Terminal A and the Satellite Terminal.
• Lufthansa operates a Senators Lounge and a Business Lounge in Terminal E.
• Northwest Airlines operates a WorldClubs Lounge in Terminal E.
• United Airlines operates a Red Carpet Club in Terminal C.
• US Airways operates a US Airways Club in Terminal B.

[edit] Cargo and FBOs

Logan Airport has two cargo facilities (North Cargo adjacent to Terminal E and South Cargo adjacent to Terminals A and B). The airport is served by the several cargo carriers:

• Air Atlanta Icelandic Cargo
• American Airlines Cargo^[5]
• Kitty Hawk Aircargo
• DHL
• FedEx Express
• Trade Winds Cargo
• UPS
• Yangtze River Express

The airport is also served by several FBO (Fixed Base Operator), which handle fueling, ground handling, aircraft cleaning, cargo service, and aircraft maintenance. They include Swissport USA and Penauille Servisair. General aviation, which is adjacent to the North Cargo area, is handled by Signature Flight Support.^[6]

[edit] Ground transportation

The MBTA's Silver Line SL1 BRT service connects South Station, a major MBTA Commuter Rail, Amtrak, Red Line subway and bus transportation hub in the downtown Boston financial district, with all Logan terminals. There is also an Airport stop on the MBTA's Blue Line subway service. The Blue Line stop is not in the airport terminal itself; free shuttles bring passengers from the train station to the terminal buildings. Massport's Logan Express bus service also serves the areas of Braintree, Framingham, Peabody, and the Anderson Regional Transportation Center in Woburn.

Livery pickup is also very common at the airport. Livery drivers are not allowed to leave their vehicles at the designated pickup areas and pickup locations vary depending on the terminal. For Terminal A, the pickup location is on the arrival level, outside baggage claim, in a small parking lot across across the road. For Terminal B (both north and south sides), pickup is at the curbside on the departure level. At Terminal C, pickup is also on the departure level at the second and third islands. At Terminal E, pickup is on the arrival level in a small parking lot across the road.

The MBTA operates a water shuttle connecting Logan with downtown Boston, Quincy, and Hull. A free shuttle ferries passengers from the dock to the terminal.

By road, the airport is at the eastern terminus of the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90), which provides easy access from the west via the Ted Williams Tunnel. From the south, travellers on Interstate 93 can connect to the Masspike east, through the Ted Williams Tunnel and take exit 26 to reach the airport. From the north, I-93 traffic to the airport uses the Callahan Tunnel, Route 1A North. From the North Shore, access is via Route 1A South. Additionally, road traffic from most of downtown Boston, Back Bay and Fenway/Boston University should use the Callahan Tunnel. The westbound twin tunnel to the Callahan Tunnel is known as the Sumner Tunnel. Both eastbound tunnels are free, but westbound travel through one of the tunnels is $3.

On July 10, 2006, the connector tunnel leading from the Massachusetts Turnpike to the Ted Williams Tunnel was closed due to a ceiling collapse that killed a woman. This complicated airport access from the south and west. This connector tunnel was part of the Big Dig project which extended the Massachusetts Turnpike to the airport via the Ted Williams Tunnel. Access from I-90 Eastbound was restored in August 2006, and access to I-90 Westbound was restored on December 23, 2006. I-90 access was completely restored the weekend of January 14, 2007.

[edit] References

1. ^ Wedge, Dave (March 2, 2007). Fast one: Staties paid $9G to drive own cars. Boston Herald.
2. ^ Michael S. Rosenwald and Sean P. Murphy (November 19, 2003). Judge allows long-fought runway at Logan. The Boston Globe. Retrieved on Error: invalid time.
3. ^ Reed, Keith (March 17, 2005). Smooth Takeoff for Terminal A. The Boston Globe. Retrieved on March 7, 2007.
4. ^ Howe, Peter (February 28, 2006). Attention Logan passengers: starting Wed. no more Terminal D. The Boston Globe. Retrieved on Error: invalid time.
5. ^ AA Cargo at BOS
6. ^ Signature at BOS. Signature Flight Support (2007).

[edit] External links

• Massport: Logan Airport
• Airport Wayfinder: Boston
• Google Maps
• Resources for this airport:
  • AirNav airport information for KBOS
  • ASN Accident history for KBOS
  • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
  • NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart for KBOS
  • FAA current BOS delay information