BOSTON – American Airlines and the Massachusetts Port Authority today celebrate the grand opening of the newly renovated aircraft line maintenance center at Hangar 9 at Boston Logan International Airport. The hangar will house up to three narrow body aircraft and includes administrative space. The hangar also has a state-of-the-art ground service equipment facility with four bays. The facility was updated to support maintenance operations for legacy American Airlines and legacy US Airways aircraft and equipment.
“As Logan enters its 91st year, investment in maintenance is important to keep good paying blue collar jobs as a cornerstone of the airport,’’ said Massport CEO Thomas P. Glynn. “American Airlines predecessor Colonial Air Transport started flying from Boston in 1926 and the airline has been here ever since. This renovated facility will continue that long relationship for years to come.’’
American’s new line maintenance facility covers 73,000 square feet and is located at the north end of Logan Airport. The project was also completed under Massport Sustainable Design Standards and Guidelines to ensure the construction made proper use of recycled, energy-efficient and regionally produced materials, as well as successfully met other environmental criteria.
Hangar 9 was originally used by Trans World Airlines, which began major service out of Boston in 1963. The hangar has been reconstructed and rebuilt, and offices have been added. Larger and higher hangar doors have also been installed, enabling safer and easier movement of aircraft in and out of the building.
“We are excited to open this new facility here at Logan,” said Paul Wroble, vice president – Line Maintenance for American Airlines. “As we continue to restore American to the greatest airline in the industry, and move forward with the integration with US Airways, Hangar 9 will offer everything we need to support existing flight operations from the great city of Boston to markets across the globe.”
American’s highly skilled Aviation Maintenance Technicians, who repair and maintain American’s fleet of more than 970 aircraft, are dedicated to safety and reliable service. At Hangar 9, technicians will be able to perform a wide-range of line maintenance tasks, ranging from routine servicing to engine changes, phase checks and more. The team will also handle the shipping and receiving of aircraft parts.
American Airlines’ Tech Ops crewmembers routinely service up to 27 aircraft per night at Logan Airport alone. The full-service ground equipment maintenance shop also supports 715 pieces of ground equipment required to operate the station.
Celebration of the new maintenance home at Hangar 9 will be in conjunction with Employee Appreciation Day for the American Airlines Line Maintenance team. The event will include a special presentation, facility tours and a ribbon-cutting ceremony with George Monahan, an American Airlines aircraft maintenance technician who recently celebrated 54 years of service with the company.
“George started his career with TWA at Hangar 9 and was present for the original grand opening of the facility,” said Mike Trochalakis, managing director – Northeast, Europe, Middle East and Asia Line Maintenance for American Airlines. “He has come full circle 51 years later, and we are honored to have him re-open the hangar and celebrate with us today.”
American and US Airways operate about 110 daily departures from Logan Airport to 21 destinations (including seasonal service) throughout North America, the Caribbean and Europe.
About American Airlines Group
American Airlines Group (NASDAQ: AAL) is the holding company for American Airlines and US Airways. Together with American Eagle and US Airways Express, the airlines operate an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to 339 destinations in 54 countries from its hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. The American Airlines AAdvantage and US Airways Dividend Miles programs allow members to earn and redeem miles for travel and everyday purchases as well as flight upgrades, vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays and other retail products. American is a founding member of the oneworld® alliance, whose members and members-elect serve 981 destinations with 14,244 daily flights to 151 countries. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines, and follow US Airways on Twitter @USAirways and at Facebook.com/USAirways.
About Logan Airport
Boston Logan, 15 minutes from the intersection of Route 128 and I-90 and five minutes from downtown Boston, serves as the gateway to the New England region and offers nonstop service to 76 domestic and 36 international destinations and in 2013 handled more than 30 million passengers. Boston Logan is served by two public transit lines and is the Air Line Pilot Association’s Airport of the Year for 2008 because of its commitment to safety. Over the past decade, the airport spent $4.5 billion on a modernization program that includes new terminals, public transportation access, parking facilities, roadways and airport concessions, and has been transformed into a world-class 21st Century facility. The airport generates $7 billion in total economic impact each year. You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/bostonlogan and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/bostonlogan.
The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) owns and operates Boston Logan International Airport, public terminals in the Port of Boston, Hanscom Field and Worcester Regional Airport. Massport is a financially self-sustaining public authority whose premier transportation facilities generate more than $8 billion annually, and enhance and enable economic growth and vitality in New England. No state tax dollars are used to fund operations or capital improvements at Massport facilities. For more information please visit massport.com.
