The Massachusetts Port Authority's (Massport) regionalization efforts took another step forward today when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted Shuttle America permission to proceed with five roundtrip flights from Hanscom Field to New York City's LaGuardia Airport. Massport has been aggressively pushing for the regionalization of air traffic throughout New England to reduce congestion at Logan International Airport and lessen the burden on Logan's neighbors.

"Hanscom Field is a public airport and the public should be permitted to use it. Massport and the FAA will continue to work together to build a regional transportation system that delivers convenient and economical service to New England's flying public," said Massport CEO and Executive Director Virginia Buckingham. "Increasingly, travelers are looking at regional airports instead of Logan. Our job is make sure that trend continues."

Buckingham has been on the forefront of the regionalization effort and had appealed directly to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater to allow new flights from Hanscom Field in Bedford to LaGuardia Airport. The New York metropolitan area is Logan's biggest market, accounting for approximately 2.4 million passengers a year or 10-percent of Logan's 24 million domestic passengers.

This summer Massport announced new service from Worcester Regional Airport to New York's JFK International Airport three times a day on American Eagle. In addition, new Acela high-speed rail service will complement the regionalization push by eventually providing a three-hour ride from Boston to New York City.

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