T.F. Green Airport Is Close to Getting a New Name

T.F. Green Airport Is Close to Getting a New Name

The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed legislation (2021-H 6051) introduced by Speaker Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly) that  renames the state airport in Warwick “Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport.”

It is believed that the name change will help to return direct international flights to Rhode Island.

Prior to Boeing’s technical problems with the 737 Max and the pandemic, the airport had multiple international carriers and more than a dozen flights to Europe and Canada.

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“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.

The change has been touted by airport executives 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 measure now moves to the Senate, which has passed similar legislation (2021-S 0519) introduced by Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick).

Governor Dan McKee has voiced support of the name change.