Shorter Buildings Sought at Fan Pier

BOSTON-Local rumors here accuse a national airline association of attempting to influence the outcome of a decision on whether a developer must lower the heights of its buildings planned for a development on the waterfront here in South Boston. The Air Transport Association of America, which represents most major airlines and air freight carriers, has an economic interest in lowering the height of those buildings for a proposed project at Fan Pier and reportedly has been involved in those negotiations. Calls by GlobeSt.com to the organization were referred to the Boston Airlines Airport Affairs Committee, a newly formed group. Those calls were not returned.

But Jose Juves, spokesperson for the Massachusetts Port Authority, which operates Logan Airport, insists that the issue is primarily one of safety. “Airlines have stated how they won’t use that runway out of safety,” he tells GlobeSt.com. The rumors that the issue is also a commercial one is unfounded, he states. “That’s never been brought as an issue,” he says. MassPort supports the Federal Aviation Administration’s insistence that the buildings’ height be cut.

Unconfirmed reports state that carriers are worried that they won’t be able to carry as much cargo in order to be able to fly over Fan Pier. The issue could also affect passenger planes, which might have to lighten their cargo holds as well.