Traveling by plane during peak season often involves long lines, stress, and hours of anticipation to get through security filters. With the goal of streamlining the process and improving the passenger experience, Massachusetts airport authorities launched a pilot program that could transform the way people travel.

It is the first remote terminal linked to a commercial airport in the country, a facility located in Framingham, Massachusetts, from where certain travelers can complete virtually all pre-flight procedures before arriving at Boston Logan International Airport.

The initiative was developed by Massport and seeks to reduce congestion at one of the airports with the highest passenger traffic in the United States, especially during the summer months, when the demand for flights increases considerably.

How the remote terminal works

The facility, officially called Logan Airport Remote Terminal, allows select passengers to check-in, print their boarding pass, check luggage and pass through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoints without having to do so inside the airport.

Once the process is complete, travelers board a special bus operated by The Landline Company, which transports them approximately 30 minutes to Logan Airport.

The main advantage is that passengers arrive directly to an area after security control, so they can immediately go to their boarding gate.

“Imagine arriving at the airport after you've checked in and gone through security, and being dropped off just steps from your gate,” said Rich Davey, CEO of Massport. “This is the kind of stress-free process we are working to make a reality for everyone.”

For now, the program is only available to Delta Air Lines and JetBlue passengers who have flights scheduled between 5:30 in the morning and 4:00 in the afternoon.

The service costs $9 per person and reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance or, at least, 90 minutes before the flight departure.

A model that could expand to other states

The authorities consider that the project could become an alternative to alleviate the saturation of important airports in different regions of the country.

Buses will depart hourly from Framingham and will have the capacity to carry up to 55 passengers per trip. In addition, there is the possibility of hiring return transportation from the airport to the remote terminal.

Massport has already announced that it is considering expanding the program to other airlines if the results are positive during the pilot phase.

The Framingham terminal is located about 30 minutes from the airport, a distance that allows better distribution of passenger flow and reduces pressure on main facilities.

While authorities monitor the performance of the program, the initiative sparks interest in the airline industry to offer a faster, more comfortable and efficient experience in one of the most stressful moments for travelers: going through security checks.

If the experiment is successful, Boston could become the model that shapes the future of American airports and the way passengers begin their trips.