When Japan Airlines announced some months back it was going to expand its service from Boston to Tokyo and from Tokyo to Logan as soon as it took possession of the new Boeing 787, a few people listened up carefully and began drawing up their own plans.

North End restaurateur Frank DePasquale was one of those who saw the potential benefit in Japanese Airlines’ upcoming expansion.

He’s already printing menus in Japanese for those who will eat at Mare, his Richmond Street seafood and shell fish emporium. He is attempting to make Mare the first stop for Japanese travelers to Boston and he’s depending upon the quality of the seafood products and shellfish on the menu to resonate with the Japanese.

While Logan Airport officials and travel experts predicted as much as a $200 million rise in spending by Japanese visiting Boston – that would be up from the $130 million spent here by Japanese businesspeople and travelers last year – that amount could be more.

This enormous expansion of Japanese travel to Boston struck DePasqualee as a perfect coincidence as he has been working to find a reason to exist for his up-scale, modernistic oyster bar, Mare.

Located at 135 Richmond Street, Mare has recently undergone a new incarnation by DePasquale and a reopening, of sorts, and little by little, the place has been filling up with very pleased and happy diners for what is arguably some of the finest, sweetest, freshest oysters on the shell, Littleneck clams on the shell, Alaskan King Crab, Stone Crab Claw, shrimps and lobster.

“We are reaching out to Japanese travelers, tourists and businessmen who frequently come to Boston to let them know Mare is here to make them feel at home with the shell fish, drinks and seafood they tend to enjoy,” said DePasquale. “We don’t just wish that they eat at Mare, but that they come to view Mare as a place where they will feel comfortable with other Japanese and to make Mare a mandatory first stop for all Japanese visiting Boston,” he added.

In this respect, DePasquale is doing what the Irish bar owners have done so well in making their Boston pubs welcoming entertainment venues for the Irish who visit and live here as well as for everyone else wishing to taste a bit of the Irish flavor and zest for life.

“I want the Japanese visitors to Boston to identify with Mare, to eat and drink among friends here and to make Mare a mandatory place to eat and to enjoy,” he added.

Indeed.

Japanese tourism is expected to go up by at least 20% this year and will likely double by 2014.

Much of this is due to the Boeing 787’s comfort and economy. The 787 uses 20% less fuel than present jet airliners making the Boston-Japan/Japan-Boston run much more economical. With flights costing less and interest in Boston rising for Japanese tourists and businesspeople. DePasquale is preparing for the expansion of Japanese visitation to Boston.

In doing so, he shows he knows a thing or two about what he is doing.

BOS Fuel Corp and Swissport Fueling, Inc. operators of an old storage facility at Logan Airport will pay a $50,000 penalty fee for failing to take adequate precaution to contain oil spills.

Fter setting a new passenger number record of 29.1 million in 2011 at Logan Airport, the numbers continue to increase.

Both January and February monthly numbers were up by 2% and 9% respectively.

Frontier Airlines will discontinue service – one daily flight – the flight to Kansas City on Wednesday, May 16.

Extensive renovations and environmental improvements for Logan Airport’s Terminal B garage have been completed nearly one year ahead of schedule at a cost of $48.3 million.

When Boeing 787’s begin flying their routes to the Orient from Boston, local business
will naturally increase for the segment of the business/leisure travel market heading to
Japan and other Asian destinations.

Logan Airport officials have been predicting for months that the new 787’s – lighter, in construction, faster, more fuel efficient and with more comfort and room inside – would lead to an estimated $175 million in added revenues overall for the airlines. And it appears that Logan’s executives know what they are talking about. The new Boeing jet airliner cuts time off the trip – an estimated two hours and offers more in the way of amenities than any other jet airliner in service. For Boeing, the 787 is a major shot in the arm and numerous world airlines have pre-ordered the 787, including JAL – Japanese Airlines, who has substantial expanded business interest in Boston due to the coming of the 787. Boston, more than ever, will become the Hub for airline service to Japan and to other Asiatic destinations.

Massport’s Board has approved a rolling five year program for more than $1 Billion to fund numerous projects including a $300 million rental car facility at Logan Airport.

International Shoppes, the newly appointed duty free operator at Logan Airport will open its fourth store at Logan in 2013.

The outlet will have a duty free section in one area and a multi-branded selection of watches and designer sunglasses.