So the Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs the airport, is beefing up its program to comfort those who get stuck sitting at terminal gates instead of on jets.
A traveler stranded or severely delayed can snooze on one of 500 cots tucked away throughout the terminals, gulp down free bottled water, and cash in food vouchers at concessions that will be open late.
Edward Freni, Massport's aviation director, said a two- or three-hour postponement might qualify for a free meal, but the airport will work with the airlines to decide on a case-by-case basis.
Additionally, there will be 40 Massport administrators volunteering throughout the airport next week, pointing passengers in the right direction and answering questions. "It's an extra body out there that can help assist our customers," Freni said.
Logan is hoping to minimize glitches by allowing any airline's late flight to unload passengers at one of four gates in Terminal C vacated this week when Continental Airlines moved to Terminal A.
President Bush also outlined an effort yesterday to temporarily ease flight delays by opening military air space on the East Coast to civilian carriers from Wednesday evening through the following Sunday. This will add two north-south routes to the hundreds that commercial airlines already use on the Eastern Seaboard.
The extra flight paths should be especially helpful to New York City-area airports and planes caught in bad weather, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The FAA has also imposed a moratorium on nonessential maintenance, construction, and renovation projects at FAA facilities around Thanksgiving and Christmas so its staff can give full attention to handling flights.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, a labor union, said allowing commercial planes to use military exercise airspace won't ease flight delays, since the problem stems from an overwhelmed staff and limited airport gates and runways.
"The controller workforce is tired, fed up, and stressed out," Doug Church, the union's spokesman.
