Legislation to Rename Airport Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport Passes

Legislation to Rename Airport Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport Passes

The bills are starting to move at the Rhode Island General Assembly. This year’s session is seeing a significant number of bills moving forward and avoiding the last minute, end of the session crunch of previous years.

On Tuesday, the General Assembly Tuesday passed legislation (2021-S 0519, 2021-H 6051) introduced by Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick) and House Speaker Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly) that would rename the state airport “Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport.”

The legislation heads to Governor Dan McKee for consideration.

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The bill had been bogged down in General Assembly internal politics the last three years.

“The airport is an economic engine for Warwick and Rhode Island and this opportunity to raise the airport’s brand awareness could attract even more domestic and international travelers to the Ocean State,” said Senate Majority Leader McCaffrey. “More passengers means more dollars spent at Warwick and Rhode Island businesses.”

Last week, airport officials announced that Breeze — a new airline — will begin service.

Breeze is founded by airline innovator David Neeleman, who founded multiple airlines including JetBlue.

The change in the name has been requested by airport officials as a way to increase awareness of Rhode Island’s main airport to domestic and international travelers and more accurately reflect the changing complexion of the airport while continuing to honor the memory of T.F. Green.

“The goal of the legislation is to promote better consumer awareness of the airport’s location, along with increasing the level of passenger travel from the facility,” said Representative Kennedy. “The name change will assist in marketing the state of Rhode Island to both leisure and business travelers. Currently, it’s one of only 32 airports in the country that do not have a city, state or region in the name. It’s important that we do what we can to encourage our tourism economy and bring the airport back to its pre-COVID-19 success.”

The airport was established in 1931 as Hillsgrove State Airport. In 1938, it was renamed T.F. Green Airport in honor of Rhode Island Governor and U.S. Senator Theodore Francis Green.

Green Airport is one of the most award-winning airports. Its complement of airlines includes: Air Canada, Allegiant Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Southern Airways Express, Sun Country and United Airlines.