Logan Airport Capital Projects

[Arlington]

Not that it matters much, but does anyone know why we have Terminals A,B,C and E, with no terminal D? Logic would place terminal D where C is now, if terminal B was split in half, with the other half being terminal C. I was wondering if that was the original plan. (?)

Physically, Terminal D is/was the old crescent-shaped international terminal with the lovely old terrazzo floors* on the ground level, and is all "still there" (I last few out of a "D" gate c.1999 (pre-9/11, anyway), I think, when it was AirTran's grungy set of gates. Already, by then, its curb space had been taken as the way to get to E on ground level (rather than "do arrivals"), and you couldn't get there from the "departures" level, so I think today's "C" departures was labeled "C D Departures" in the wayfinding.

Its problem was that it didn't have any space for a modern security checkpoint (just a comically-small x-ray before you went up an escalator) and so became pretty useless as a place to enter the airport, but IIRC they'd already opened E before it became clear that it wasn't worth having any D gates if they didn't have any D Security.


*I'm a little worried they redid them. They used to have very "1950s" themes.

 

[greenlinetobrooklyn]

In my extensive (re: five minutes) of searching, this was the only image I could find that actually denoted Terminal D:

 

[jass]

Newark is going to knock down Terminal A and replace with with Terminal One.

And keep terminals B and C.

 

[datadyne007]

Physically, Terminal D is/was the old crescent-shaped international terminal with the lovely old terrazzo floors* on the ground level, and is all "still there" (I last few out of a "D" gate c.1999 (pre-9/11, anyway), I think, when it was AirTran's grungy set of gates. Already, by then, its curb space had been taken as the way to get to E on ground level (rather than "do arrivals"), and you couldn't get there from the "departures" level, so I think today's "C" departures was labeled "C D Departures" in the wayfinding.

Its problem was that it didn't have any space for a modern security checkpoint (just a comically-small x-ray before you went up an escalator) and so became pretty useless as a place to enter the airport, but IIRC they'd already opened E before it became clear that it wasn't worth having any D gates if they didn't have any D Security.


*I'm a little worried they redid them. They used to have very "1950s" themes.

What's even more fun is that the former Terminal D is now referred to as Pier A of Terminal C.

In my extensive (re: five minutes) of searching, this was the only image I could find that actually denoted Terminal D:

Cool stuff. Dated 02/05, while the old Terminal A had already been demolished and the new Terminal A was under construction with a year left before opening.

 

[whighlander]

In my extensive (re: five minutes) of searching, this was the only image I could find that actually denoted Terminal D:

D dates from when Minoru Yamasaki's great Eastern Airlines Terminal was located where the landside part of A is now located -- circa 1970

There were even older terminal sections where some of B is now and of course there was no E I think C also was brand new at that time

The first incarnation of that was the John Volpe International Terminal when people still remembered John as a recent former governor

 

[lapradetom]

I could be nitpicking here,(ok,I am) :lol: but one would think that Massport would just designate Terminal E as being Terminal D to eliminate all confusion. (it was already mentioned that the public complained it would be confusing to rename it) I don't see how it's confusing. Everyone knows their alphabet, it's just that some people don't like change at all. Terminal E will be a much different space after the updates, may as well get the terminal lettered correctly while we're at it.

 

[lapradetom]

D dates from when Minoru Yamasaki's great Eastern Airlines Terminal was located where the landside part of A is now located -- circa 1970

There were even older terminal sections where some of B is now and of course there was no E I think C also was brand new at that time

The first incarnation of that was the John Volpe International Terminal when people still remembered John as a recent former governor

^Awesome pics...I never realized there was parking on the roof of the Eastern Airlines terminal.

 

[Arlington]

You could park on the upper levels of the old A (Eastern/Texas Air/Continental) until 9/11, after which they permanently closed it (and, for a short time, closed B garage as well, until they reopened B garage with an "open your trunk" inspection.)

The old A was circa 1970. The old D was more if a 1958-ish feel (prop to jet transition)

 

[whighlander]

Old A -- the Eastern Airlines Terminal was the best of the Old Logan

While being a truly modern design -- you can see the NYC World Trade Tower look in the exterior columns -- it had a magisterial elegance -- t wan't just utilitarian

While it was clearly an airline terminal because it was managed if not belonged to one airline -- it had a unity and organization more reminiscent of a great railroad station

They even had a terminal newspaper listing events such as the series of concerts during the Thanksgiving - Christmas season

Some of us would come over on the T from MIT just for the events

PLUS -- one of the best Boston Skyline views from the root top parking level [in those halcyon days no security issues at all]

 

[JeffDowntown]

All of you in the "just rename it" crowd for Terminal E have clearly never been involved in a major relabeling project.

Renaming a terminal, like an E to D change is not trivial, and it is not cheap. There are literally thousands of places the name change needs to happen, almost simultaneously (maps, websites, printed materials, much of it outside of MassPort control), to prevent massive confusion. We're talking about a major project requiring significant resources, simply because people don't like a skipped letter.

MassPort clearly has done the ROI and determined it is not worth the effort. They have more important places to spend the monies that actually improve the operations at Logan.

 

[datadyne007]

All of you in the "just rename it" crowd for Terminal E have clearly never been involved in a major relabeling project.

Renaming a terminal, like an E to D change is not trivial, and it is not cheap. There are literally thousands of places the name change needs to happen, almost simultaneously (maps, websites, printed materials, much of it outside of MassPort control), to prevent massive confusion. We're talking about a major project requiring significant resources, simply because people don't like a skipped letter.

MassPort clearly has done the ROI and determined it is not worth the effort. They have more important places to spend the monies that actually improve the operations at Logan.

Well said.

 

[sneijder]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDTQ5ANKVjo&app=desktop

MassPort video showing upcoming capital projects at Logan.

No mention of the APM? They did a study last year finding that it would take about 5-10 mins off the travel time with the buses. Really feels like a sooner or later thing with the projected growth.

 

[Equilibria]

No mention of the APM? They did a study last year finding that it would take about 5-10 mins off the travel time with the buses. Really feels like a sooner or later thing with the projected growth.

That's not for this round of construction. I think it's still in the pipeline for the next round.

 

[datadyne007]

No mention of the APM? They did a study last year finding that it would take about 5-10 mins off the travel time with the buses. Really feels like a sooner or later thing with the projected growth.

I noticed that as well. From what I've heard, the APM within the next decade is a go, but I don't think they're ready to model it yet, as it is still in the earlier stages of design. Everything in this rendering has already been designed.

 

[HelloBostonHi]

Yes I believe that video only shows currently under construction or in bidding projects that have been approved and finished design. I know the APM is a priority but last I heard it hadn't gone through the design and approval stages just yet.

 

[EdMc]

Thanks for the photos, whighlander. The 1968 Boston based movie with Steve McQueen, The Thomas Crown Affair, had a scene filmed in my hometown and also had a scene of Faye Dunaway walking through that Eastern Airlines Terminal. Nice flashback.

 

[Java King]

No mention of the APM? They did a study last year finding that it would take about 5-10 mins off the travel time with the buses. Really feels like a sooner or later thing with the projected growth.

Mentioned here: https://www.massport.com/logan-forward/initiatives/looking-ahead/

 

[Massachoicetts]

D dates from when Minoru Yamasaki's great Eastern Airlines Terminal was located where the landside part of A is now located -- circa 1970

There were even older terminal sections where some of B is now and of course there was no E I think C also was brand new at that time

The first incarnation of that was the John Volpe International Terminal when people still remembered John as a recent former governor

Wow great picture!!! I see the TWA L-1011 that was used on Both TW810 to CDG and TW 730 to LHR!!

 

[Arlington]

I worked for a time with a fellow who claimed to have done the ABCDE wayfinding signage for Logan. I'm sorry I forget his name, but I got the impression he'd done the project in the early 80s (which, with airline deregulation, was a time when the airlines were rapidly/frequently changing and "we" couldn't afford to name terminals after them any longer). Or maybe c. 1991 after the Gulf War I shakeout?

D dates from when Minoru Yamasaki's great Eastern Airlines Terminal was located where the landside part of A is now located -- circa 1970

I'd like to clarify that the D building is still (even without its letter) the most-ancient and most-on-its-original-footprint terminal building (which we can also know/infer from the fact that it never had a two-level arrivals/departures circulation)

This 1964 view, looking from roughly where the FedEx hangers are today, clearly shows (what would be later named) the D terminal on the far side of the parking lot. It has no planes visible, so perhaps it isn't open yet.

Still, I'd say this fits with my recollection (from reading the terrazzo?) that D was built roughly in the 1958 ~ 1962 Connies-to-Jets transitional era.

I'm guessing the triple-tailed Constellations on the lower right (now "B1" side) are the Eastern Shuttle (which began in 1961 with Connies). I can't identify the other planes, but the 4-props could be a mix of Lockheed Electras and DC-6s & DC-7s (and likely no Boeings at all)

This 1967 view (from the same angle) shows that what is now C has been built between 1964 and 1967, and that the Eastern Airlines terminal (the future A) under construction (lower left) while D is now hidden behind the central garage.

In the view of Terminal A, you can see that they've completed the baggage handling level, the high ceiling of the passenger waiting level (whose ceiling is the first floor of parking), and then one more floor of parking atop that, and with the two circular vehicular ramps very clearly visible.

This view below must be from almost exactly 1996, because the Hyatt is there, the TWT tunnel approach is in its trench (it opened for restricted traffic c.1995/early1996?) and TWA last flew the L-1011 in 1997. (I'm thinking the Hyatt opened c. 1997 too)

 

[whighlander]

Thanks for the photos, whighlander. The 1968 Boston based movie with Steve McQueen, The Thomas Crown Affair, had a scene filmed in my hometown and also had a scene of Faye Dunaway walking through that Eastern Airlines Terminal. Nice flashback.

Without getting into trouble Faye could flash me front or back anytime 8)