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Quieter Planes Land at Logan; New Delta Shuttle Fleet Generates 90% Less Noise

10/18/2000

Massport Executive Director and CEO Virginia Buckingham joined with officials from Delta Airlines to introduce Delta Shuttle's new Boeing 737-800 aircraft into service today at Logan International Airport. The new aircraft are 90% quieter than the 727 aircraft in use today. Thequieter planes will be used on the Delta Shuttle service between Boston, New York and Washington, D.C. These shuttle flights account for almost 10,000 operations a year at Logan Airport. Delta Shuttle currently operates seven of the new 7373-800s and will replace all 16 of its 727s by January, 2001.

"Massport has been at the forefront of the effort to reduce aircraft noise for our neighbors and we commend Delta for taking this step," said Massport Executive Director and CEO Virginia Buckingham. "These advanced 7373-800s use the latest technology to help minimize the noise for nearby communities."

Massport has been active in the effort to reduce airport noise and was selected to reprsent airports around the world on the Coalition for a Global Standard on Aviation Noise Global. The Coalition is charged with developing international aviation noise standards and pushing the envelope for quieter aircraft technology.

Logan was the first airport in the country to apply for federal grants to sound-insulate schools and homes at a cost of over $100 million for more than 6,700 dwelling units and 35 schools. Massport is currently engaged in a $50 million mitigation program for community projects, airport buffers, and HOV efforts.

Delta joins USAirways Shuttle, which began switching from Boeing 727s to quieter Airbus A320 airplanes in 1999. The Airbus A320 also offers significant improvements in terms of reducing noise and pollution over nearby communities. The Airbus A320 affects 19 times less area with noise than the 727 aircraft it replaced. USAirways expects their entire shuttle fleet on the Boston - Washington and Boston - New York shuttle routes (a total of nine aircraft) to be converted to Airbus A320s by mid-November.