Pipefitter Chris Donisi wins contest to become Voice of Logan Airport
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Massachusetts pipefitter Chris Donisi was chosen as the new voice of Boston Logan Airport after 6,000-plus applied.
The contest drew 35,000-plus votes, making a local accent the airport's branding tool.
Background
Massport, the Massachusetts Port Authority, operates Boston Logan International Airport and ran the contest. Travelers had complained that parts of Logan felt like they could have been "Anywhere, USA," so officials set out to give New England's largest travel hub a more distinctly Boston feel. Massport CEO Rich Davey framed the search as a way to make passengers feel at home with one of the state's "diverse, distinct, and deeply proud voices." The contest far exceeded expectations — officials had anticipated a few hundred submissions.
How it unfolded
- Sep 15, 2026Massport announces it is seeking someone "distinctly Boston" as the "Voice of Logan," with auditions at Terminal A and online entries at voiceoflogan.com before October 4.
- Sep 30, 2026The contest opens to Massachusetts residents 18 and up for a chance to become the new voice of Boston Logan International Airport.
- Oct 6, 2026Massport officials say they have received over 3,225 submissions since announcing the contest.
- Oct 19, 2026Finalists are announced, including Meagan Lewis-Michelson, Christopher Donisi and Phyllis Thibodeaux Beach.
- Oct 30, 2026Over 6,000 Massachusetts residents have applied, and the campaign has racked up seven million-plus earned-media impressions, with Massport partnering with Boston ad agency Allen & Gerritsen.
- Nov 1, 2026Voting closes with more than 35,000 ballots cast, per Massport CEO Rich Davey; the winner is to be announced Thursday on Kiss 108 radio's "Billy & Lisa in the Morning."
- Nov 5, 2026Chris Donisi, a pipefitter, is chosen as the next voice of Logan Airport.
Key terms
- Massport
- The port authority of Massachusetts that owns and operates airports and public port terminals.
- earned-media impressions
- Views of unpaid third-party coverage such as articles, interviews, or mentions, as opposed to paid advertising.
- Kiss 108
- A commercial contemporary hit radio station serving the Greater Boston area.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Massport CEO Rich Davey said the contest was a way to make Logan feel authentically Boston, calling it one of "two really important elections coming up here."
- Public
- Brookfield letter writer Donna Sullivan asked Massport to pay the winner after learning the role is unpaid.
- Expert
- Brand and AI strategist Amy Zwagerman wrote in an Inc. opinion piece that "an accent isn't what makes a person authentic. Their story is."
- Support
- Finalist Meagan Lewis-Michelson said she wore her Boston accent "as a badge of pride" and called the outcome "a win-win."