As the state of Maryland explores ways to fill the nearly 50 percent vacant World Trade Center in downtown Baltimore, area economists suggest that without the expansion of more nonstop international flights out of Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, the outlook is dim.

“The failure of the state to be able to recruit and retain a strong international presence is closely linked to the failure of BWI to offer nonstop international flights to major business hubs in Europe,” said Anirhan Basu, of the Sage Policy Group.

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