Gov. Maura Healey and Massachusetts Port Authority CEO Richard Davey are not concerned about potential security vulnerabilities with Boston Logan International Airport’s newly opened remote terminal in Framingham that were raised by a retired FAA investigator.
“Look, as governor and as the former attorney general, I take public safety as the highest priority. So, I feel very comfortable about this and how things have been done,” Healey told the Herald when asked about concerns raised by retired FAA investigator Brian Sullivan.
Healey’s comments followed a press event celebrating the opening of the Framingham terminal that featured the likes of Congresswoman Katherine Clark, a representative from Senate President Karen Spilka’s office, Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky, and more.
Sullivan raised the security concerns with the Herald last week, specifically related to maintaining the sterile “chain of custody” over passengers and checked bags during the 22-mile bus ride on public highways.
“Because the shuttle buses drop passengers directly at terminal gates, any compromise along the Mass Pike could introduce a threat directly into the airport secure zone,” Sullivan said, noting the country’s current threat posture with Iran, al Qaeda, and ISIS.
“We can’t afford to implement another vulnerable program,” Sullivan added.
Davey says the terminal and shuttle program have been reviewed and approved by the FAA, TSA and Massachusetts State Police.
“It’s been fully vetted by the TSA and current FAA folks, and obviously State Police as well. And when I talked to my team about this vision maybe 18 months ago, we said if it was at all potentially unsafe, we wouldn’t do it,” Davey said. “So we’re also happy Landline has been doing this successfully in other airports. So I’m very comfortable and confident that we have a very safe and secure process here, and that’s our number one goal: Airport safety and security.”
But while Landline may already provide successful shuttle services at other airports, this specific program is the first of its kind in the entire country, with passengers checking through the TSA security checkpoint at the Framingham terminal before boarding the Landline bus, traveling over 20 miles offsite, and entering Logan Airport past the security checkpoint.
The Landline Company, a third-party contractor, is partnering with Massport to help manage this program.
Landline runs a similar bus service between airports in Pennsylvania and Illinois, but this will be the first program in the nation to offer service from a remote terminal directly to an airport.
Sullivan also told the Herald of concerns related to luggage and vehicle tampering, saying that checked baggage could potentially be tampered with, swapped, or intercepted during the long transit between the suburban facility and Boston.
He also cited unforeseen highway events — like traffic accidents, vehicle breakdowns, or medical emergencies — as another potential security vulnerability, as it introduces unpredictable variables outside of a highly controlled airport environment.
“This program is focused on passenger convenience and moving people quicker and easier, but that can come in conflict with security issues,” Sullivan said.
Bogdan Dzakovic — who was an FAA field agent and Federal Air Marshal before serving as a team leader in the Air Marshal program — raised similar concerns, adding that the program opens another door for terrorists.
“What we’re doing here today in Massachusetts is the first of its kind in the country and it’s all about making it a little bit easier on everybody when they need to go to the airport,” Healey said during the press event inside the terminal.
“I know this is going to be a game changer for so many people. The ease of being able to drive here, park here, leave your car here, and then go through a security screening and get on a bus and go straight to the terminal in your plane is awesome. It’s inexpensive. And it’s also free, I think, for kids under 17,” she said.
During this pilot program, only passengers flying on Delta and JetBlue between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. will be able to use this service — though there are plans to expand access to additional airlines in the future.
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