Boston Logan International Airport has launched a new pilot programme that allows selected passengers to complete check-in, baggage drop and TSA security screening at a remote terminal in Framingham, Massachusetts, before travelling directly to the airport on a secure shuttle bus.
The initiative, introduced by the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), began operating on June 1 and is currently available only for passengers flying with JetBlue and Delta Air Lines. The remote terminal is located about 25 miles west of downtown Boston and is designed to reduce congestion at Boston Logan International Airport while improving the passenger experience.
Travellers using the service pay $9 each way and must reserve a spot online in advance. Children under 18 can travel free with a ticketed adult. Passengers can check bags, receive boarding passes and complete TSA screening at the Framingham facility before boarding a secure bus that takes them directly to the post-security area inside Logan Airport.
Rich Davey, chief executive of Massport, said the programme aims to test whether remote security screening can ease pressure on airport terminals and reduce stress for travellers dealing with heavy road traffic around Boston.
“How does it work? You have to sign up in advance. It’s almost like you’re buying a plane ticket,” said Rich Davey.
According to Massport, around 250 passengers used the service during its opening days, while more than 2,000 tickets were sold during the early booking phase of the pilot. The authority said JetBlue and Delta together represent roughly half of passenger traffic at Logan Airport, making them suitable launch partners for the trial.
The programme operates daily for eligible flights departing between 5:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Secure shuttle buses transport screened passengers directly to their terminals, bypassing traditional TSA checkpoints at the airport.
The service is operated in partnership with Landline, a transportation company that already provides airside-connected bus services in other US markets. Officials said security procedures at the Framingham site follow the same federal standards used at Logan Airport’s regular checkpoints.
Massport said the pilot will run for approximately three months before authorities decide whether to expand the programme to additional airlines or other locations around the Boston area.
Industry observers said the Boston project could become a model for other congested airports in the United States. Similar concepts are already being studied in cities including Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York.
The trial comes as airports and airlines continue searching for ways to improve passenger flow, shorten wait times and reduce congestion without compromising aviation security.
