T.F. Green Airport Developments

[runawayjim]

T.F. Green passenger traffic dips in June

Passenger traffic at T.F. Green Airport (PVD) last month continued to lag year-ago levels and also fell compared with May.

i think air travel in general has gone down because of the higher prices and the economy.

[Frankie811]

i think air travel in general has gone down because of the higher prices and the economy.

Absolutly. High jet fuel prices certainly don't help either. For me, I just don't like flying and I refuse to be treated like a criminal or a potential terrorist when going threw the check-in process. There are some real horror stories out there on how some TSA agents have treated travelers. I can still picture in my mind the incident at Washington National Airport last year, which reached the internet, where a mother with a baby in a stroller was mistreated by security personnel (TSA?) because she wouldn't throw away the liquid in her baby's bottle. It was totally absurb. I just don't want to deal with something like that. I remember going threw the x-ray @ TF Green the week after 9/11. By the time I had gone threw the x-ray machine security personnel has opened my suit bag, found and opened my toiletry bag and found my finger nail clipper where they broke off the little knife file. I didn't even realize they did that untill I reached my hotel in FL. To this day I have no idea how they accomplished this feat so swiftly without my knowledge. despite 9/11, I had already booked the flight three months in advance so I decided to fly even though Southwest would have given me a 100% refund because of the situation. I was afriad that people would think that I whimped out so I didn't cancel my flight. That and the fact that I had only paid about $ 88 r/t from PVD - FTL.

[Frankie811]

In an effort to bring to a conclusion the discussion over a longer runway at Green Airport and give residents near the airport a clearer picture of whether their homes and neighborhoods will stay, Kevin Dillon has called on Mayor Scott Avedisian to be

[mental757]

Warwick Beacon (7/24/08): "Dillon says efficiency underlying reason for longer runway"

http://warwickonline.com/warwickonline/ind...0&Itemid=30

[mental757]

The new Wolgang Puck restaurant opened across from gate 7 last week. The Only in RI store is now open too.

[numonex]

This is an age old battle that will never end. As a former warwick resident and traveler I have followed it a bit. Bottom line is that the mayor of warwick has been pretty adamit that he doesnt want expansion. I dont know why they dont stop wasting time and money on this and just give it up.

Dont get me wrong, I am all for airport expansion, probably one of the few, but its a corrupt burocratic mess. TFGreen has already lost to Hartford and Manchester which both have 9000+ foot runways.

Just more of the CRAP that has become the states motis operendi!

[CtownMikey]

So lets just declare it here and now... we suck at transportation (ripta, TFG).. our taxes suck.. jobs are being sucked.. housing prices and housing stock sucks, our local government will always suck, our ability to attract large conventions and concerts sucks, we suck when it comes to Hollywood, we vote the same idiots into office so apparently the general population sucks, oH yes and our schools suck... our driving sucks. The local developers suck. we suck in every nationwide poll...

but most of all.. most importantly "the only point that I actually believe is true in this post" is that the attitude towards the present and future of this state, the apparent obsession to focus on the negative and push aside or hardly put a spotlight on the good progress being made..

That is what really sucks here in Rhode Island.

I understand that this site it here for discussion of urban topics that we take interest in..and opinions are opinions, but it just seems like I'm reading a copy of the Providence Journal now whenever I click on a new post. Negative negative news.. full of complaints.

If everything sucks so bad, then lets time warp Providence back into what it was in the 80's because things apparently haven't gotten any better.

Sorrrry and I know that I have no clue who HERE actually goes to town meetings or public hearings.. etc (people who try and make a difference about issues that need improvement) -->I honestly have never done anything like that. But I don't think that posting about our "loss" to other airports, venues,.. and our never ending corrupt political situation will do any good.

I guess what I am asking is.. can't we just try some positive attitude for once

[runawayjim]

This is an age old battle that will never end. As a former warwick resident and traveler I have followed it a bit. Bottom line is that the mayor of warwick has been pretty adamit that he doesnt want expansion. I dont know why they dont stop wasting time and money on this and just give it up.

Dont get me wrong, I am all for airport expansion, probably one of the few, but its a corrupt burocratic mess. TFGreen has already lost to Hartford and Manchester which both have 9000+ foot runways.

Just more of the CRAP that has become the states motis operendi!

we didn't lose to anyone. green is already easier to fly in and out of than logan. it's got better access to boston than manchester. we should absolutely NOT be giving up this airport expansion. the mayor of warwick is just doing this so that he can have some political clout. it has been known that he wanted to run for governor. if he gave in and let the airport expand, he would lose the votes of his own city. however, i would not be surprised, if he actually became governor, if his tune were to change.

i'm getting this idea that you're one of those negative nancies that likes to complain about everything without offering a solution. everything that the state is doing is a losing situation according to you. give up the airport expansion. give up the dunk renovations. what else? let developers turn providence into warwick because there's not point in having an urban city?

[mental757]

Too much has been invested in the intermodal project and the airport in general. TFG generates 2.1B to the annual RI economy and is an asset that must be protected. The runway expansion is needed regardless of what Bradley, manchester, or Boston is doing. To walk away from the intermodal or the runway extension would be penny wise and pound foolish.

Besides, I can only imagine what these same naysayers would say if we did walk away from them: "Geesh, they spent all that money designing and studying those projects for nothing."

Its called an investment, most come with certain risks and costs. To do nothing only ensures that RI gets nothing in return.

[numonex]

we didn't lose to anyone. green is already easier to fly in and out of than logan. it's got better access to boston than manchester. we should absolutely NOT be giving up this airport expansion. the mayor of warwick is just doing this so that he can have some political clout. it has been known that he wanted to run for governor. if he gave in and let the airport expand, he would lose the votes of his own city. however, i would not be surprised, if he actually became governor, if his tune were to change.

i'm getting this idea that you're one of those negative nancies that likes to complain about everything without offering a solution. everything that the state is doing is a losing situation according to you. give up the airport expansion. give up the dunk renovations. what else? let developers turn providence into warwick because there's not point in having an urban city?

Open your eyes dude instead of critiscizing me. First and foremost this state has become a meatgrinder for any company inside or out to do any business. Take a look around!! Not seeing any fortune 500 companies knocking down the doors to come here. TFGreen should never have been developed where it is in the first place. Way back in the day there were talks about moving it to Quansette where it would have fit better (at the time) but Warwick wasnt having any part of that. It NEEDS to be expanded to work....I suppose you havent noticed but airlines are PULLING out!!

As far as the Dunk....I am all for the renovations but the capacity needed to be increased or at least maintained....cutting the capacity by almost a thousand people was a bad move..Simple as that. I am sure it will be georgious inside but it should have been expanded even if just a little.

I am sorry if I sound negative but it is what it is!! This state is a cyclone to do any sort of business in, its too corrupt and its too difficult of an environment. Even take a look at Twin River!! I just recently been there and the renovations there look great but I just read the news that they are a sip of coke and a clamcake away from chapter11. No suprise there with the state taking .60 from every $1!!! 60% of their GROSS income! I give them a few years and they will be a desolate wasteland just like Rocky Point.

Right now there isnt much that can be done. the state is broke so not much investment possibility. I think the state threw away 1 too many oppertunities at this point. Indian Casino, Movie studios, 6 flags(or other themepark..someone other than 6 flags was looking in the state but cannot recall).....And they almost killed FMGlobal but by some miricle they worked that one out...Airport expansion.

Agian sorry to be a negative nancy but if you can tell me the posative because I am not seeing it and all I can see is my taxes going up year over year. But you show me the posative!!!

Too much has been invested in the intermodal project and the airport in general. TFG generates 2.1B to the annual RI economy and is an asset that must be protected. The runway expansion is needed regardless of what Bradley, manchester, or Boston is doing. To walk away from the intermodal or the runway extension would be penny wise and pound foolish.

Besides, I can only imagine what these same naysayers would say if we did walk away from them: "Geesh, they spent all that money designing and studying those projects for nothing."

Its called an investment, most come with certain risks and costs. To do nothing only ensures that RI gets nothing in return.

And let me make myself clear on this... I am ALL for airport expansion. I say do what is needed and get it done with. I am not agianst it and am not a naysayer on this. I fully supported the first set of plans that would have given 9500+ runways. The point I wanted to make here is that it has been going on for 9 years...9 years!!! EGHADS!!!

[mental757]

Runway expansions often take anywhere from 10-20 years depending on the circumstances. Thanks for clearing up that you an airport expansion supporter though!

BTW & FYI - the State had absolutely NOTHING to do with screwing things up with FM Global. Check out the thread for that (and the attached news articles) and you'll see that the current land-owner of their current HQ and the town of Johnston created the scuffle that has since been sorted out.

I won't argue with you regarding the currrent state of the State when it comes to business climate. I will say its probably not as bad as you or the newspaper report, but certainly no where near what it needs to be.

Lastly, AA pulled out of PVD due to the high cost of fuel and the fact that they lack the right sized aircraft to serve our market versus it having anything to do with the runway length or the business climate.

[CtownMikey]

Open your eyes dude instead of critiscizing me. First and foremost this state has become a meatgrinder for any company inside or out to do any business. Take a look around!! Not seeing any fortune 500 companies knocking down the doors to come here. TFGreen should never have been developed where it is in the first place. Way back in the day there were talks about moving it to Quansette where it would have fit better (at the time) but Warwick wasnt having any part of that. It NEEDS to be expanded to work....I suppose you havent noticed but airlines are PULLING out!!

As far as the Dunk....I am all for the renovations but the capacity needed to be increased or at least maintained....cutting the capacity by almost a thousand people was a bad move..Simple as that. I am sure it will be georgious inside but it should have been expanded even if just a little.

I am sorry if I sound negative but it is what it is!! This state is a cyclone to do any sort of business in, its too corrupt and its too difficult of an environment. Even take a look at Twin River!! I just recently been there and the renovations there look great but I just read the news that they are a sip of coke and a clamcake away from chapter11. No suprise there with the state taking .60 from every $1!!! 60% of their GROSS income! I give them a few years and they will be a desolate wasteland just like Rocky Point.

Right now there isnt much that can be done. the state is broke so not much investment possibility. I think the state threw away 1 too many oppertunities at this point. Indian Casino, Movie studios, 6 flags(or other themepark..someone other than 6 flags was looking in the state but cannot recall).....And they almost killed FMGlobal but by some miricle they worked that one out...Airport expansion.

Agian sorry to be a negative nancy but if you can tell me the posative because I am not seeing it and all I can see is my taxes going up year over year. But you show me the posative!!!

And let me make myself clear on this... I am ALL for airport expansion. I say do what is needed and get it done with. I am not agianst it and am not a naysayer on this. I fully supported the first set of plans that would have given 9500+ runways. The point I wanted to make here is that it has been going on for 9 years...9 years!!! EGHADS!!!

I love that most of the out of state JWU students I've talked to online use their, there, and they're incorrectly.. and course/coarse ETC.. but the fact that you can't spell makes me smile see?

anyways.. I just want your view on where you think RI will be in 10 years? You make it sound as if we'll be taken over by the U.S. gov't by that time.

[numonex]

LOL..I cant speel for beans..LOL. good thing I work in technology.

Anyhoo. the facts of the matter are that we are not in good shape. I dont know about 10 years..Hopefully we get some new leaders in there with some vision and economic sense. It seems that everytime I post in here I hear more bad news. I touched on Twin River which is on the virge of chapter 11 which, incidently, is the 3rd largest money generator for the state righ behind..you guessed it..income tax and sales tax. I am fearfull of them going under because that will be yet another blow to the state which is taxed to the max already. Add to that a report that I heard yesterday that our unemployment is at 8.1%. That is stunning compaired to CT at 5.8 and MA at 5.5.

If I were to be a state leader (cold day in ....that his would happen..LOL). I would start by hitting the bricks hard. We need some heavy outside investment in this state to 1.Generate jobs and get the UR down. And 2.Generate more diverse cashflow into the state.

People dont like to talk about the following but the fact stands by not persuing these has hurts us.

1.Movie studios in So Co. This should have been coaxed into existance as it would have help with the #1 and #2 I mentioned above.

2. Casinos in RI. They're is no saying how 2 more casinos whould have hurt Twin Rivers but they are on the virge anyway and if or what looks like when they fold up we are down some serious money generation. State is going to have to make the books balance and they are going to look at taxes.

3. The airport. No down whatsoever that the airport pumps money into the economy. they need to be allowed to expand and these 9 year quabbles need to end...They cost too much money. Expand it already and expand it enough to be of some good. maybe even have an airline make it a hub..like Southwest.

items like the aforementioned would further diversify the cashflow into the state which will strengthen the economy. other things go with this aswell. We need a environment that makes businesses WANT to come into RI..Not flee from RI.

On the flipside the state needs to cut spending...I actually think the Governer is right on track with what needs to be done there bu he is getting way too much resistance. he should just do what he aims and tell the yappers to stifle.

Hope my spelling wasnt too offensive....

[webbage]

Open your eyes dude instead of critiscizing me. First and foremost this state has become a meatgrinder for any company inside or out to do any business. Take a look around!! Not seeing any fortune 500 companies knocking down the doors to come here. TFGreen should never have been developed where it is in the first place. Way back in the day there were talks about moving it to Quansette where it would have fit better (at the time) but Warwick wasnt having any part of that. It NEEDS to be expanded to work....I suppose you havent noticed but airlines are PULLING out!!

Quonset is just not a good option in my opinion. The main runway there is only a few hundred feet longer than PVD's and the secondary runway is much too short. Runway expansion at OQU would be quite expensive as it would involve moving parts of the runways out into the bay.

[CtownMikey]

it was..

[runawayjim]

the airlines pulling out of green are in some financial troubles. that doesn't bother me that much. the runway expansion will happen, but as mental said, it takes time. avedesian will back down eventually, especially if he still wants to run for governor (he won't be able to win if he hurts one of the state's biggest assets).

the state isn't in as much trouble as the end of the world folks at the projo make it out to be. one of the biggest problems with the state is within the state gov't to begin with. forget taxes and all that... there's too much fluff in the state that needs to go.

there's no magic fix for this. the state needs to improve the business climate for anything to happen. i'm hoping once BCBS moves, we'll see some smaller businesses move in to fill their current space, businesses that don't need entire buildings.

and to get back on topic of the airport, my point is that we haven't lost anything. our airport is better situated as an alternative to logan than manchester. you can't compare that one. as for hartford, i have a feeling fewer people that would fly out of green are goign to hartford instead than those that go to logan. once the runway expansion is complete (and i firmly believe it will happen), we'll be able to attract more airlines with more non-stop destinations, and we'll be bringing more passengers as well. the biggest reason for the decrease in passengers is because of the cost. fewer people are traveling in general.

[numonex]

the airlines pulling out of green are in some financial troubles. that doesn't bother me that much. the runway expansion will happen, but as mental said, it takes time. avedesian will back down eventually, especially if he still wants to run for governor (he won't be able to win if he hurts one of the state's biggest assets).

the state isn't in as much trouble as the end of the world folks at the projo make it out to be. one of the biggest problems with the state is within the state gov't to begin with. forget taxes and all that... there's too much fluff in the state that needs to go.

there's no magic fix for this. the state needs to improve the business climate for anything to happen. i'm hoping once BCBS moves, we'll see some smaller businesses move in to fill their current space, businesses that don't need entire buildings.

and to get back on topic of the airport, my point is that we haven't lost anything. our airport is better situated as an alternative to logan than manchester. you can't compare that one. as for hartford, i have a feeling fewer people that would fly out of green are goign to hartford instead than those that go to logan. once the runway expansion is complete (and i firmly believe it will happen), we'll be able to attract more airlines with more non-stop destinations, and we'll be bringing more passengers as well. the biggest reason for the decrease in passengers is because of the cost. fewer people are traveling in general.

I agree with you and I hope you are right about the expansion. Airlines are all slumping across the board (except for southwest for some reason). In order to combat the high fule costs I see a trend toward larger capacity planes and fewer stops. Thats just my opinion.

As for the old BCBS building. it would be good to see it fill up but would it make more sens for another large co to move to RI as apposed to a slew of smaller ones? Could go either way. But it all goes back the square 1. The hostle business climate that is in the state. that needs to be turned around

As for the fluff...LOL..We have had that for years and its a shame. The govt needs a big ol enema to get it all cleaned out.

[runawayjim]

I agree with you and I hope you are right about the expansion. Airlines are all slumping across the board (except for southwest for some reason). In order to combat the high fule costs I see a trend toward larger capacity planes and fewer stops. Thats just my opinion.

As for the old BCBS building. it would be good to see it fill up but would it make more sens for another large co to move to RI as apposed to a slew of smaller ones? Could go either way. But it all goes back the square 1. The hostle business climate that is in the state. that needs to be turned around

As for the fluff...LOL..We have had that for years and its a shame. The govt needs a big ol enema to get it all cleaned out.

southwest is simply a pleasure to fly. their rates are reasonable, the boarding process, while different, is actually more efficient (no one saying "that's my seat" and switching and all that) and cheaper for them, and they still serve free drinks and peanuts/pretzels.

i see RI attracting more smaller businesses than large corporations. BCBS is in 6 buildings right now. that's a lot of smaller office space that smaller businesses could use.

[CtownMikey]

waterplace park, pplace, westin/convention were a.. dare I say it?? I do.. TREMENDOUS boost to the city.. maybe the 195 land being developed is what is needed for the next phase of the renaissance

[numonex]

southwest is simply a pleasure to fly. their rates are reasonable, the boarding process, while different, is actually more efficient (no one saying "that's my seat" and switching and all that) and cheaper for them, and they still serve free drinks and peanuts/pretzels.

i see RI attracting more smaller businesses than large corporations. BCBS is in 6 buildings right now. that's a lot of smaller office space that smaller businesses could use.

I agree. i love Soutwest and they are committed to TFGreen to boot. I recently read that they are adding more flights to Greene. I would actually like to see them turn TFG into a new england hub. I like the first come first get on ticketing that they do. Their people are always jovial and a pleasure to fly with. Nothing bu kudos for Southwest.

[Frankie811]

Number of passengers continues to decline at Green

Passenger traffic at T.F. Green Airport was down more than 9 percent last month when compared with the same month a year ago, according to the latest figures from the Rhode Island Airport Corporation.

[f1rehead]

Number of passengers continues to decline at Green

Passenger traffic at T.F. Green Airport was down more than 9 percent last month when compared with the same month a year ago, according to the latest figures from the Rhode Island Airport Corporation.

That's not surprising considering ticket prices, airline stinginess, and security annoyances. The real question is: How does the decline at Green compare with other airports?

[mr2448]

That's not surprising considering ticket prices, airline stinginess, and security annoyances. The real question is: How does the decline at Green compare with other airports?

Bradley was down 8.39%, about 55,000 pax. Most other mid sized airp.orts will probably report the same

[mental757]

WARWICK BEACON: "FAA to study Dillon's runway proposal"

http://warwickonline.com/warwickonline/ind...8&Itemid=30

[mental757]

PROJO: "Airliners adding more seats at T.F. Green"

http://www.projo.com/business/content/BZ_A...v24.c948fa.html