If you’re flying through Boston Logan International Airport this fall, there’s an important airport update worth knowing before travel day.

Massport has announced that Phase 2 of a major runway safety improvement project will begin August 31, 2026. As part of the work, Runway 9-27 will have very limited availability for approximately 75 days, with the project expected to be completed before Thanksgiving.

For travelers, the important takeaway is simple:

Logan will be operating with reduced runway capacity during the project.

That does not mean every flight will be delayed. But reduced runway capacity can make an already busy airport more vulnerable to disruptions when combined with severe weather, low visibility, heavy traffic, late-arriving aircraft or problems elsewhere in the national aviation system.

If you have a trip coming up between late August and November, a little extra preparation could save you a lot of aggravation.

What Is Happening at Boston Logan?

Massport is continuing safety improvements at the end of Runway 27, including installation of an Engineered Material Arresting System, commonly known as EMAS.

The system is designed to improve runway safety by helping stop an aircraft in the event it overruns the end of the runway.

According to Massport, the project requires Runway 9-27 to have very limited availability for approximately 75 days beginning August 31.

During that period, Logan’s other runways will need to handle a greater share of airport traffic.

For passengers, the engineering details aren’t nearly as important as the operational reality:

One of Logan’s major runways will have limited availability during a busy fall travel period.

Does This Mean Your Flight Will Be Delayed?

Not necessarily.

Boston Logan will remain operational throughout the project, and airlines will continue operating scheduled flights.

However, Massport has stated that Logan will have reduced runway capacity during construction.

Under good conditions, many travelers may not notice a significant difference.

The greater concern comes when reduced runway capacity is combined with other problems such as:

• Severe weather
• Low visibility
• Heavy arrival and departure periods
• Air traffic control restrictions
• Delayed inbound aircraft
• Aircraft maintenance issues
• Congestion at other major airports

Air travel is interconnected.

A problem in New York, Washington, Chicago or another major hub can eventually affect an aircraft scheduled to arrive at or depart from Boston.

That makes monitoring your flight especially important during the construction period.

1. Check Your Flight Before Leaving Home

Do not assume that because your itinerary says your flight departs at 6:30 PM that everything is still running according to schedule.

Check your airline’s app or website before leaving for Logan.

Then check again.

Airlines can adjust:

• Departure times
• Gates
• Terminals
• Aircraft
• Connections

Enable airline notifications whenever possible so you’re alerted quickly when something changes.

One important warning: a delayed flight can sometimes move back toward its original departure time.

If an airline shows a two-hour delay at noon, that does not necessarily mean you should automatically leave home two hours later.

Continue monitoring the flight.

2. Give Yourself More Time Than You Think You Need

One of the easiest travel problems to avoid is cutting your airport arrival too close.

Traffic around Boston can change quickly, particularly during morning and afternoon commuting periods.

Then add:

• Logan roadway congestion
• Terminal drop-off traffic
• Baggage check
• TSA security
• Walking to the gate
• Construction or temporary airport changes

Several small delays can quickly destroy what originally looked like a comfortable travel schedule.

For most travelers, arriving a little early is far less stressful than watching the clock while sitting in Boston traffic.

3. Confirm Your Terminal Before Leaving

Boston Logan has four passenger terminals:

Terminal A, Terminal B, Terminal C and Terminal E.

Don’t rely entirely on what happened during your last trip.

Airline operations and terminal assignments can change.

Check your airline and flight information before departing for the airport.

If you’re using prearranged transportation, providing your transportation company with your airline and flight number is much more useful than simply saying:

“I’m going to Logan.”

The flight information helps determine the appropriate terminal and allows changes to the trip to be monitored more effectively.

4. If You’re Being Picked Up at Logan, Provide Your Flight Number

Your scheduled arrival time only tells part of the story.

Imagine your flight is scheduled to land at 7:30 PM.

Weather delays the departure by an hour.

Your aircraft then experiences another delay before landing.

It takes additional time to reach the gate.

Then you wait for checked luggage.

A pickup arranged only around the original 7:30 PM arrival time can quickly become complicated.

Providing your flight information allows a professional transportation provider to monitor changes rather than relying solely on the originally scheduled arrival time.

That becomes particularly useful during periods when airport operations may already be under additional pressure.

5. Don’t Leave Transportation Until Travel Day

Transportation is another part of the trip worth planning in advance.

Waiting until the morning of your flight can introduce unnecessary variables:

• Vehicle availability
• Last-minute ride cancellations
• Surge pricing
• Luggage-capacity problems
• Group transportation issues
• Early-morning availability

This becomes even more important if you’re traveling with several passengers, multiple checked bags, young children, business colleagues or a larger group.

Having transportation arranged beforehand removes one more uncertainty from travel day. If you already have your flight booked, you can also review our Boston Logan Airport Car Service for prearranged airport transportation options.

What About Early-Morning Flights?

Early departures create their own set of challenges.

A 6:00 AM flight does not mean you should be arriving at Logan at 5:30 AM.

You still need to account for:

• Drive time
• Airline check-in
• Checked luggage
• TSA security
• Walking to the gate
• Boarding time

Boarding also typically begins well before the published departure time.

That makes planning your departure from home just as important as knowing your flight departure time.

North Shore Travelers Have Another Variable: Getting Into Boston

Passengers traveling from communities including Salem, Peabody, Beverly, Marblehead, Swampscott, Lynn and surrounding North Shore towns need to account for something else:

The trip into Boston itself.

Travel times can vary significantly depending on traffic, construction, time of day and conditions around Logan.

A trip that looks straightforward on a map may take considerably longer during peak traffic.

Your pickup or departure time should therefore be based on the entire journey, not simply the mileage between your home and Boston Logan.

Flying Through Logan This Fall? Preparation Matters

The upcoming runway project is not a reason to panic or avoid flying.

It is a reason to prepare properly.

Massport is performing the work to improve long-term runway safety, and Boston Logan will remain operational throughout construction.

But with Runway 9-27 having very limited availability for approximately 75 days, the airport will have less runway capacity than usual.

Before travel day:

• Confirm your flight.
• Verify your terminal.
• Monitor airline notifications.
• Allow adequate travel time.
• Confirm your airport transportation.
• Keep your flight information readily available.
• Have a plan in case something changes.

A few minutes of planning before your trip can prevent considerably more stress later.