TSA launches first-of-its-kind remote security screening terminal at Boston Logan Airport
by The Washington Times AI News Desk · The Washington TimesThe Transportation Security Administration says it has introduced the country’s first publicly available remote airport security screening terminal, giving select passengers flying out of Boston Logan International Airport the option to clear security at a satellite facility miles away and ride a secure bus directly to their gate.
TSA describes the pilot program, developed in partnership with the Massachusetts Port Authority, as a “first-in-the-nation remote screening option” — meaning the first such terminal open to ordinary passengers across eligible fare classes rather than limited to premium travelers. The program began June 1 at a new remote terminal in Framingham, Massachusetts, roughly 25 miles from Logan. Passengers flying JetBlue or Delta between 5:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. are currently eligible.
“This pilot program is all about creating options for our travelers,” said Ha Nguyen McNeill, the TSA’s senior official performing the duties of acting administrator. “Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, TSA is constantly looking at new ways we can make the checkpoint experience smoother and faster for passengers, while our security posture remains equally strong.”
At the Framingham site, travelers check in, print boarding passes, check baggage and pass through standard TSA screening — the same equipment and officers used at the airport itself, according to the agency. Once cleared, passengers board a dedicated secure bus operated by third-party contractor The Landline Company, which bypasses airport checkpoints and drops riders at the secure side of their terminal with enough time to reach the gate. Checked bags are transported separately into Logan’s baggage system and loaded onto the passenger’s flight.
The program is aimed at reducing airport congestion and improving the passenger experience, officials said. TSA and Massport have not stated that the pilot was created in direct response to the security disruptions this spring, though the initiative arrives in the wake of a difficult period for air travelers. A partial government shutdown affecting DHS funding began Feb. 14, leaving TSA officers working without pay; more than 480 resigned in the first weeks alone, and callout rates at some airports exceeded 40%. Lines at major airports stretched to three hours or more during the peak of the crisis in March.
Massport CEO Rich Davey framed the initiative as part of a longer-term overhaul of the passenger experience. “Passengers in and around Metro West now have a new, low-stress way to reach Boston Logan,” he said.
Tickets for the remote screening experience are available at Massport’s website for $9 per passenger. Children under 18 ride free when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Daily parking at Framingham costs $7. Reservations are recommended, and spots can be booked as early as 90 days out and up to 90 minutes before departure. The system automatically recommends a bus timed to arrive at Logan at least 45 minutes before a flight departs.
TSA said the Boston program could be a model for expansion, noting that additional remote screening pilots may roll out nationwide. Similar but more limited offsite screening operations already exist at Los Angeles International, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International and John F. Kennedy International airports, though those have historically served only premium-cabin travelers on select airlines.
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