BOSTON (AP) The executive director of the Massachusetts Port Authority says her agency's long-term goal for Logan Airport is to limit short-haul flights, and increase the use of high-occupancy planes.

Virginia Buckingham, Massport executive director, also told a panel examining the need for a controversial new runway for Logan, that Massport must be more aggressive in getting people to use regional airports.

Buckingham said Monday that the Federal Aviation Agency expects an additional 23 million passengers to fly in and out of New England in the next 10 years. Of that number, she said, Logan expects to take 7 million.

Buckingham also said Worcester Airport, which Massport also operates, will reach the 100,000-passenger mark this week, up from 50,000 last year. However, she said she hopes that number will increase to about 800,000 in the future.

Buckingham also briefed the six-member panel on the $3 billion modernizaton at Logan, which includes an additional 400,000 square feet of public space in Terminal E, the international terminal; a new federal inspection station in Terminal B, which will add to Logan's ability to handle international traffic, and a dual roadway system to segregate arrival and departure motor vehicle traffic.

Gov. Paul Cellucci and Buckingham who appointed three of the six panelists have pressed for the new 5,000-foot runway, aimed at reducing flight delays. Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino who appointed the other three panelists some members of the congressional delegation and nearby residents oppose the runway, largely because of noise.

The panel, which held the last of 14 meetings Monday, has been at odds for much of the year as members debated what issues should be addressed in a supplemental draft environmental impact report, which is expected to be prepared early next year.

After the environmental report is completed, there will be a 45-day period for public comment, and then a final report will be issued in the spring, FAA officials said.

Eventually the FAA will study the report and make a record of decision on whether the runway should proceed.