The runway was shut down to install an Engineered Material Arresting System, or EMAS — a specialized, crushable surface at the end of the runway designed to slow and stop an aircraft that overshoots the runway. Crews worked 24 hours a day, seven days a week to complete the project and reopen the runway ahead of the busy holiday travel season.

The closure was a rare move for a safety upgrade and had been a source of frequent, predicted delays at the airport. Massport thanked travelers and partners for their patience in a LinkedIn post, writing: "Thank you to our passengers, airline partners and neighboring communities for their patience and understanding as we completed this important work!"

As part of the project, crews installed a bridge deck at the end of the runway to support the EMAS. The bridge is engineered to hold a fully loaded 747 jet, which weighs about 1 million pounds. EMAS is required by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The reopening comes as Logan prepares for the holiday travel rush, when passenger volumes typically surge. With Runway 27 back in service, airport officials hope to reduce the delays that had become routine during the closure.

The safety system is part of a broader effort to enhance runway safety at Logan, one of the nation's busiest airports. EMAS installations have become increasingly common at airports where runway end safety areas are limited by geography or other constraints.