Legislators discuss Green Airport at congressional breakfast

T.F. GREEN Airport was one of the topics discussed at the annual Greater Providence Chamber of Council Congressional Breakfast on Monday at the Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick.  / COURTESY OFFICE OF THE R.I. SECRETARY OF STATE
T.F. GREEN Airport was one of the topics discussed at the annual Greater Providence Chamber of Council Congressional Breakfast on Monday at the Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick. / COURTESY OFFICE OF THE R.I. SECRETARY OF STATE

WARWICK – Expanded service at T.F. Green Airport will require a coordinated effort to attract new carriers and passengers, according to several members of the Rhode Island congressional delegation, speaking informally Monday at the annual Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce Congressional Breakfast.
The event at the Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick featured U.S. Sens. Jack F. Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, as well as U.S. Reps. James R. Langevin and David N. Cicilline. About 500 people attended.
The panelists responded to a wide range of questions, on issues including cyber-security, the future of the Affordable Care Act and elementary and secondary education reform.
On Green Airport, the chamber’s board president asked what actions could be taken to make sure the airport continues to modernize and attract businesses and visitors to Rhode Island.
In June, international flights will begin at the airport, with the arrival of flights through the German-based Condor Airlines. Service between Rhode Island and Cape Verde also is scheduled to begin in early June, with flights by Transportes Aereos de Cabo Verde Airlines.
Reed noted the expanded runway will be completed by 2017, which will increase the competitiveness of the regional airport. But leaders also have to be proactive, and talk about the effectiveness of using the Rhode Island airport, he said.
“We can’t just assume they will come. We have to go out and get them,” he said.
He recently spent time in Ireland, speaking to officials at its Shannon Airport, he said. The airport is the third-busiest in Ireland. And he said he had been in recent contact with Southwest Airlines about expanding service.
Rhode Island needs to continue to promote its service through Green, which can be viewed as more convenient to businesses than through Logan International Airport in Boston, Reed said. “If we get the traffic, the airlines will bring the planes.”
His comments spurred Laurie White, president of the Providence chamber, to remind members that they should use Green for their travel, as well.
Cicilline said beyond the airport investments, it’s important for the federal government to repair aging infrastructure.
“We need to keep the pressure on to really rebuild the crumbling infrastructure of this country, and our state,” he said.

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