What you're seeing over Boston
Most jets over Boston are going to or from Logan International, which sits on a filled-in peninsula in Boston Harbor, practically next door to downtown. JetBlue is Logan's largest airline, with Delta, American, United and Southwest close behind, and Logan is one of the busiest international gateways in the Northeast.
Because Logan has runways pointing in many directions, the neighborhoods under its approaches change frequently with the wind. Arrivals might come in over the harbor islands one day, over South Boston and Dorchester another, and over Revere, Winthrop or Chelsea the next. Departures can climb out over the harbor, over East Boston or toward the north shore. Boston's harbor, islands and coastline mean many approaches are over water, and on summer days with sea breezes the runway configuration can change several times. The live map shows which way Logan is working at any given moment, and our guide to noise and flight paths explains why your neighborhood might suddenly be busy.
Airports near Boston
- major hubBOSBoston Logan International Airport
KBOS · near downtown
New England's largest airport, on Boston Harbor, with JetBlue as its largest carrier. Live traffic at BOS ↗ - relieverBEDHanscom Field
KBED · 14 miles northwest of downtown
A busy business-aviation airport in Bedford, next to Hanscom Air Force Base, which has no flying units. Live traffic at BED ↗ - commercialORHWorcester Regional Airport
KORH · 42 miles west of downtown
A hilltop airport in central Massachusetts with limited airline service. Live traffic at ORH ↗ - commercialMHTManchester-Boston Regional Airport
KMHT · 44 miles northwest of downtown
A New Hampshire airport with passenger service and a significant UPS and FedEx cargo role. Live traffic at MHT ↗
Common traffic over Boston
JetBlue is Logan's largest carrier, flying A321s, A320s and A220s. Delta, American, United and Southwest add domestic routes, and Aer Lingus, British Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates and others bring widebodies across the Atlantic and beyond. Cape Air flies small turboprops and pistons to Cape Cod and the islands.
Logan's runway setups are complex, but the main configurations go roughly like this:
- Northwest winds, common in winter: arrivals typically land toward the northwest, approaching over the outer harbor and the South Shore.
- Southwest winds, common on summer afternoons: arrivals usually land toward the southwest, approaching over Revere, Winthrop and the water off Nahant, while departures climb out over the harbor and South Boston.
- Northeast winds, often with storms: arrivals land toward the northeast, approaching from over Dorchester Bay and the inner harbor.
Transatlantic flights tend to cluster in the evening, departing toward the northeast and Nova Scotia, and arriving in the early morning.
Hanscom handles a large volume of business jets, from Citations to G650s. Military aviation is limited, though Massachusetts Air National Guard F-15s fly out of Barnes in Westfield and C-5s operate from Westover. Helicopters include Boston MedFlight, State Police, news and occasional tour flights.
Aircraft you'll often see here
Airbus A321
narrowbody airliner
Airbus A320
narrowbody airliner
Airbus A220-300
small narrowbody airliner
Boeing 737-800
narrowbody airliner
Embraer E175
regional jet
Boeing 777-300ER
long-haul widebody twin-jet
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
long-haul widebody twin-jet
Gulfstream G650 / G650ER
large-cabin business jet
Plane-spotting tips for Boston
Castle Island in South Boston is the city's best-known spot, with arrivals and departures over the harbor and a full view of Logan. Constitution Beach in East Boston puts you right under some arrivals and departures. Piers Park in East Boston gives a wide view of the airport with the skyline behind it. On the harbor islands, ferries pass under approach paths. Fog and nor'easters can sock in the coast, while winter and early spring produce clear, cold days with excellent visibility. The Harborwalk along the Seaport also looks across the water toward Logan. Summer sea breezes can flip the runways in the afternoon, so check the map before picking a spot.
Boston sky questions
Why do Logan's flight paths keep changing?
Logan has several runways pointing in different directions, and Boston's coastal winds shift often. The airport changes runway configurations to match the wind, which moves arrivals and departures between neighborhoods.
Why do planes fly low over South Boston and Dorchester?
In some configurations, arrivals line up over the harbor and South Boston or Dorchester before landing at Logan, which is only a couple of miles away.
Where can I watch planes in Boston?
Castle Island in South Boston and Constitution Beach and Piers Park in East Boston are popular public spots with great views of Logan's runways.
Nearby cities
Planes over Providence (41 mi) · Planes over Hartford (92 mi) · Planes over New York City (190 mi) · Planes over Philadelphia (271 mi)