Peering up at the bustling terminals, are you ready to discover the story of Logan International Airport? This isn’t just any airport. Logan Airport is a gateway to the world and a testament to Boston’s rich history.
Logan International Airport’s story began in 1923. It started as a military base known as Jeffery Field. Imagine biplanes taking off from a simple airfield. By 1929 Logan Airport began offering passenger service to New York. It was among the first airports to do so.
Air travel truly took off after World War II. Logan expanded rapidly. New terminals were built and new routes opened. By 1949 flights served London and other international destinations. In 1952 Boston Air Port was renamed Logan International Airport. It honored Edward Lawrence Logan a Southie native.
Edward Lawrence Logan was a veteran of the Spanish-American War. He was also a fierce advocate for veterans’ rights. Logan lobbied for aviators to receive veteran benefits. He never even flew in an airplane.
In 1956 Massport became the sole owner and manager of Logan Airport. This led to some controversy. The agency planned and built a new runway on East Boston’s Wood Island Park.
Terminal C, Logan’s oldest still-running terminal, was built in 1967. Terminal E arrived in 1974. It signaled a new global era serving many international flights. Terminal E was renovated and expanded in 2005 and up to 2017. Today Logan Airport is the 19th busiest airport in the United States.
Many airlines launched transatlantic flights from Logan. American Overseas Airlines started service to Shannon and London in 1946. Pan Am followed in 1947. BOAC had direct flights to Glasgow in 1952. They used the Boeing Stratocruiser. BOAC was also the first to fly direct to London. This was using the De Havilland Comet the world’s first commercial jet.
The Boeing 747 arrived at Logan in 1970. It flew transatlantic with Pan Am and BOAC. Logan’s iconic control tower opened in the early 1970s. It is a widely recognizable structure in Boston.
Logan Airport has continued to expand. Today it has four main terminals A, B, C, and E. Terminal A was rebuilt in 2005. Terminal B was renovated between 2012 and 2014.
Delta Air Lines uses Logan Airport as a key transatlantic hub. JetBlue also uses Logan as a hub and focus city. Logan Airport connects Boston to the world. It is a testament to the city’s history and its future.