Boston’s Logan makes improvements
IN THE CITY
As many of you know, Pen Air is the airline that was reselected by the U.S. Department of Transportation to serve the Northern Maine Regional Airport (PQI) until July 2016. Pen Air first started serving PQI in June of 2012. This airline flies the 34 seat SAAB 340 directly to Boston Logan (BOS) 3 times per day during the work week and two times per day during the weekend.
Pen Air arrives and departs out of Terminal B at BOS. Over the summer, a substantial upgrade to Terminal B was completed. These upgrades give the air traveler access to Pen Air, Air Canada, American, Spirit, US Airways, United and Virgin America all without leaving Terminal B. This is the largest selection of airlines of the three domestic terminals at BOS.
Prior to the completion of this project, Terminal B was actually separated into two parts. One side had US Airways, Spirit, Pen Air and Air Canada. The other half had American and Virgin America. Since the two halves were not connected, a passenger on Pen Air had to walk outside and pass through security once again to connect with American and Virgin America. United was in Terminal C requiring an even farther walk or the shuttle bus and another security check.
By connecting the two parts of Terminal B together and adding additional gates, American Airlines, Pen Air, Spirit, US Airways and United can all be accessed within the terminal and without going through security. Air Canada and Virgin America are within the terminal but still require a second security check.
If you like to travel on Jet Blue, Terminal C can also be accessed without going outside. A security check is, however, required as well in order to reach the Jet Blue gates. Jet Blue continues to build their hub at BOS. When completed, Boston Logan is expected to have as many non-stop destinations on Jet Blue as does JFK airport in New York, which is Jet Blue’s largest hub.
This upgrade has certainly improved an already great airport. BOS is the largest airport in New England and the 19th largest in the country. U.S. carriers offer direct flights to all their major hubs and the vast majority of their secondary hubs. Because of its very diverse population and business interest, it has direct connections to many international destinations. One notable are the direct flights to Tokyo on the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. This was the very first regular route flown by the Boeing 787.
The upgrades allow the PQI traveler to take better advantage of this great air travel facility.
Scott Wardwell is airport director for the city of Presque Isle’s Northern Maine Regional Airport. He can be reached at 764-2550 or via email at scottw@flypresqueisle.com.
