Delta Eyes Restart of Boston's Overseas Flights

Delta Air Lines plans to resume international flights from Boston's Logan International Airport in about two years.

Delta CEO Jerry Grinstein cited that timeframe during a presentation to employees last month, an airline spokeswoman confirmed.

Logan officials have been in talks with Delta over both domestic and international route development.

``We were thinking one or two (destinations), but this sounds like there's more interest in doing things in Boston from an international standpoint,'' said Thomas Kinton Jr., executive director and CEO of the Massachusetts Port Authority. ``It would probably start focused on the area of Europe, more so than Asia.''

Delta previously flew daily from Boston to London from June 2001 to May 2002, but the economic downturn after the 9/11 terrorist attacks prompted it to cease the service and cancel plans for Boston-to-Rome flights. Its international service from Boston is now limited to flights to Bermuda and flights via connection carrier Comair to the Canadian Maritimes.

``As we continue our international expansion, which is a significant part of our transformation plans, certainly we're looking at all opportunities to grow,'' Delta spokeswoman Gina P. Laughlin said. ``We have flown international routes from Boston in the past, so we know there is a market there. But at this point in time, we have not made any formal decisions about specific international flights.''

If Delta uses its own planes for the international service, the flights could depart from Delta's Terminal A and arrive via Terminal E, where customs is located.

News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.