In an initiative that will significantly enhance New England travelers’ convenience and comfort, American Airlines and American Eagle Airlines today announced a series of major improvements to their facilities at Logan Airport. American offers more international nonstop flights and more European flights from Boston than any other airline, and it is also the largest airline serving Boston in terms of passenger volume. In its improvement program at Logan, American is:

  *  Combining its American Airlines and American Eagle gates and
    Transportation Security Administration check-in facilities for
    improved efficiency,
  *  Shifting American Eagle departures from the Amelia Earhart General
    Aviation Terminal to its facilities in Logan’s Terminal B,
  *  Renovating its retail concessions space and increasing the number of
    concessions from 17 to 23, and
  *  Repositioning and increasing its number of self-service check-in
    kiosks for greater convenience.

 
“Our New England customers deserve nothing less than the very best,” said Jim Carter, Managing Director for American’s Eastern Division. “These improvements will make flying in and out of Boston on American Airlines and American Eagle even more convenient and enjoyable for both the business and leisure traveler, while delivering on our overall goal of improving our customers’ travel experience.”

The cost for the improvements is estimated at $25 million, with the initial investment being made by the Massachusetts Port Authority and BAA Boston Inc., which is constructing the restaurant and retail space under a contract with Massport, and supported by ongoing fees paid by American.

In consolidating its American Airlines and American Eagle operations, a hallway is being added that will connect the two airlines’ facilities, allowing passengers to make connections from Eagle to American flights and vice-versa, without having to clear security. The new configuration, to be completed this summer, will provide an express security lane for elite members of the AAdvantage frequent flyer program and for First and Business Class passengers. American’s 10,000-square-foot, 170-seat Admirals Club is also being renovated, with most of the work to be completed by mid- to late summer.

The Club is converting its three computers to new IBM personal computers provided by Lenovo and adding a fourth IBM PC, supported by two printers. All of the furniture will be replaced this year, with additional refurbishing planned for 2007.

All American Eagle flights now operate from Terminal B, instead of the former split arrangement, wherein approximately 30 of their 50 daily regional jet flights used to leave from a remote terminal accessed by a shuttle bus from Terminal B. Those flights serve such destinations as New York, Washington, Toronto, Baltimore, Raleigh/Durham, St. Louis, Bangor, and Columbus.

Travelers flying American to and from Logan will also have their choice of a wider array of retail shops and restaurants. Many of the new food and shopping outlets will be in the new combined American and American Eagle secure areas, to be accessible to passengers of both operating units. The concessions space, scheduled to open early in 2007, will include a new 15,000 square-foot food court, and will feature terrazzo flooring, shop fronts finished in warm woods and frosted glass windows, and raised 11-foot ceilings.

American is also repositioning its self-service kiosks for a smoother, more efficient operation. Its team at Logan, under the direction of Andy Albert, Managing Director, Operations, determined the new configuration after taking into account the recommendations of a team of summer interns from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who studied American’s operations and offered suggestions
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