Speaking at an invitation-only lunch, the executive director of the Massachusetts Port Authority said the he is close to landing a deal with China's fourth-largest airline.

Massport CEO Thomas Kinton Jr. said he expects a deal will be reached with Hainan Aviation Group soon and that direct, nonstop flights from Boston to China could be offered in 2010. While domestic travel is down, Kinton said the "big story is international travel." He believes Logan International Airport has the numbers to support direct flights from Boston to Toyko and is "selling that now." Massport spokeswoman Danny Levy declined to offer any specifics on the talks with Japan saying only that Massport "hoped to offer" direct service from Boston to Toyko.

Kinton said Logan's passenger numbers are down 5 percent to 6 percent this year and operations are down 20 percent compared to 1999 when landings and takeoffs were at its height. Logan lost about 92,000 landings and takeoffs and is operating at just under 400,000. Logan also has stopped offering flights to about eight non-stop markets serving 71 to 72 markets versus 79.

The deal with Hainan Airline (which changed its name to Grand China Air) hinges on the ability to obtain Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Boeing is backed up in the production of the 787's because of the huge demand for the fuel-efficient jets. The Boston Business Journal previously reported that the flights would be daily, non-stop 13-hour, 20-minute flights. The nonstop service from Boston to China was a key goal of Gov. Deval Patrick's trade mission when he visited China last December.