BOSTON -- The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) announced that the Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (NE/AAAE) recently awarded Boston Logan International Airport the Balchen/Post Award for Outstanding Achievement in Airport Snow and Ice Control. It was the fifth time in 11 years that Logan was recognized for having the nation’s best snow and ice control program at a large commercial airport, and the first time in the award’s history that one airport operator received three first place wins.

In a record-breaking winter for snow fall, Logan plow operators cleared 110 inches of snow this winter. Logan utilizes a fleet of equipment, including multifunction equipment with 27-foot blades that clear its 10,000-foot-long runways in 10 to 20 minutes. Logan received the award in the category of Large Commercial Airport. Hanscom Field in Bedford received 102 inches and garnered the top spot in the Large General Aviation airport category and Worcester Regional Airport, airport for the snowiest city in America in 2014-15 with 119.7 inches, received the award for the top Small Commercial Airport.

“Congratulations on your clean sweep of the runways this winter that resulted in a clean sweep of airport awards,’’ said Gov. Charlie Baker. “Having our airports open during an historic winter shows not only the resilient spirit of our residents, but tells the country and the world we are always open for business.’’

“These awards are a monumental and unprecedented achievement and dedicated to the men and women of Massport who kept Boston Logan International Airport, Hanscom Field and Worcester Regional Airport open during the most challenging winter seasons in recent history,’’ said Alex M. Kashani, A.A.E., chairman of the Balchen/Post award committee. “They have proven themselves consistently and are recognized as the standard to look for in snow removal and ice control in the airports profession.”

“Receiving these awards is a great honor to our organization and the many people who worked so hard day after day, storm after storm, to keep our facilities safe and functioning,” Massport CEO Thomas P. Glynn said. “Our snow crews and operations team deserve a lot of credit for getting us through such a tough winter season. This was truly a team effort.”

Massport’s top priority is the safety and security of the customers and employees who use our facilities. More than 31 million passengers traveled through Logan last year, and 17,000 people are employed at the airport. During the winter season, Logan follows a carefully orchestrated plan to tackle all types of weather. Logan’s award-winning “snow crews” consist of approximately 100 highly-trained and experienced men and women who operate more than 40 specialized pieces of equipment, with the goal of making sure the airport can connect New England to the world in any type of weather. Boston Logan budgets approximately $5 million annually for snow removal.

“We’re honored to have been selected again for this prestigious award that validates our commitment to the safe operation of Boston Logan and our other airports,” said Massport’s Director of Aviation Edward C. Freni. “The value of the Balchen/Post is that it is an endorsement by not only the airlines, but also by the pilots and ground crews who depend on us to keep our airports open and functional during all weather conditions.”

The award, named for pioneering aviators Wiley Post and Col. Bernt Balchen, recognizes the dedicated efforts of “snow crews” in maintaining their airports in safe and operational conditions during the winter season. The award was presented at the NE/AAAE 47th annual International Aviation Snow Symposium in Buffalo, NY.

About Boston Logan International Airport

Boston Logan, a short distance 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 46 international destinations and in 2014 handled 31.6 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. The airport generates $13 billion in total economic impact each year.

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