How Has Boston Logan Airport’s International Offering Evolved Over The Last Decade?

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2019, one could fly nonstop to 56 different international destinations from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). Delta Air Lines, which maintains a massive operational hub at the airport, uses the airport as a significant transatlantic gateway, while a variety of long-haul international carriers also serve the airport.

While long-haul international service to and from Boston is nothing new, the airport’s international offerings have expanded dramatically in the past decade. Growth has not just in terms of routes but also in frequency and capacity to and from the capital of the US state of Massachusetts, which happens to be the largest city in the broader region of New England.

An early transatlantic hub

In the early days of transoceanic aviation, range was one of the primary factors limiting aircraft. As the closest major US city to Europe, Boston emerged as a critical choke point for travel between North America and Europe. American Overseas Airlines was the first to fly across the Atlantic from Boston, inaugurating a weekly New York-Boston-Shannon-London service by the end of the 1940s.

By the end of the 1950s, there were over 50 transatlantic departures from Logan. In 1957, Aer Lingus launched the first fully nonstop service (without continuing onwards) between Boston and Shannon.

Modern times

Since the introduction of the Boeing 747 jumbo jet, Boston Logan has remained a transatlantic hub. British Airways famously served the airport with 747-400s until the type’s retirement. Lufthansa began serving the airport with the Queen of the Skies in the 1970s and continues to do so today with the Airbus A340, as it is one of the last few operators of the aircraft.

More and more carriers have begun flying long-haul international services to Boston. Airlines from the Middle East, including both Emirates and Qatar Airways, serve the airport. Turkish Airlines, the global carrier with the most destinations served, also serves Boston from its Istanbul hub.

Photo: ThaKlein | Shutterstock

In terms of connections to international destinations by US operators, both Delta and JetBlue operate services to various cities in the Middle East and Europe. Delta even serves some far-flung destinations from Boston, including Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Dynamic capacity adjustments in the past decade

Many carriers have also specifically sought to expand capacity at Logan within the past decade. In 2017, British Airways upgraded its service three times a week to an Airbus A380, later making service with the double-decker jet permanent during the 2019 summer season. Emirates also announced intentions to serve Boston with the A380.

Photo: Thiago B Trevisan | Shutterstock

However, the COVID-19 pandemic would make long-haul international services from Boston more limited. Airlines aren’t keen to return capacity to what it once was, with demand recovering slowly. For example, British Airways now serves Boston with a 787-10 service, far removed from the A380s that served the airport before the pandemic.

But with the pandemic firmly in the rearview mirror, some carriers are again beginning to expand international offerings from Boston. Just a few weeks ago, JetBlue launched a service from the airport to Schiphol Airport (AMS) in Amsterdam, demonstrating how the airport’s international network is finally growing again.