Record-breaking Year at Boston Logan as Passenger Count Tops 29 Million
BOSTON, 2013-01-18 — /travelprnews.com/ — Boston Logan International Airport set a new passenger record in 2012 with 29,325,617 people passing through the airport, an increase of 416,350 over 2011, which was the previous record high year.
“Massport capped off a very successful year in 2012 by setting new passenger records in both our aviation and maritime divisions, which saw Cruiseport Boston handle 380,000 passengers,’’ said Thomas P. Glynn, CEO & Executive Director of the Massachusetts Port Authority. “Logan truly is New England’s Gateway to the World. Virtually all of Logan’s passenger growth occurred in international travel, which was up nearly 10 percent.’’
Massport facilities generate more than $8 billion in economic activity and enhance the quality of life of New England residents by protecting their freedom to travel safely, securely, efficiently and cost-effectively. Logan Airport generates $7 billion in economic activity.
The 29 million threshold was crossed on Dec. 26 when Gary Lewis, his wife Jennifer, and their two children, Madeline and Oliver, traveled to Logan from Maine on a scheduled bus and boarded a United Airlines flight to Los Angeles, and then on to Australia, for their annual family vacation. The Lewis’ are frequent travelers and choose Logan Airport when visiting family on the west coast and beyond. Massport determined the 29 millionth passenger based on November passenger totals and the availability of airline seats and projected load factors during the month of December. With that information Massport determined the 29 millionth passenger would be on the United Airlines flight to LAX.
The 2012 numbers tell an interesting story: Virtually all of the passenger growth at New England’s Gateway to the World occurred in international travel, which was up 9.8 percent, or 388,143 people, to 4,350,597. Domestic travel was up 33,489, or 0.1 percent, to 24,865,886 passengers. The increase in passengers occurred even as the number of flights in and out of Logan dropped by 14,118, nearly 4 percent, to 354,869.
“Airlines have the right gauge airplanes in the market,’’ said Massport’s Director of Aviation Ed Freni. “Fewer flights and more passengers means flights are full.’’
General Aviation passengers at Logan were down more than 5,000 to 109,134. Massport does not allow general aviation aircraft to be based at Logan, but transient aircraft are permitted. Massport owns and operates Hanscom Field in Bedford, which is New England’s premier general aviation facility.
Boston Logan, 15 minutes from the intersection of Route 128 and I-90 and five minutes from downtown Boston, serves as the gateway to the New England region and offers nonstop service to 72 domestic and 31 international destinations and in 2012 handled 29.3 million passengers. Boston Logan is the Air Line Pilot Association’s Airport of the Year for 2008 because of its commitment to safety. Over the past decade, the airport spent $4.5 billion on a modernization program that includes new terminals, public transportation access, parking facilities, roadways and airport concessions, and has been transformed into a world-class 21st Century facility. You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/bostonlogan and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/bostonlogan.