Celebrating 90 Years of History

1931

Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport was originally founded as Hillsgrove State Airport. The first state-owned and operated airport in the U.S. The commencement air shows drew over 150,000—the largest crowd that had attended a public function in the country until that time.

1933

The original Terminal Building was the first public building in Rhode Island built in the Art Deco style.

1938

State Hangar 1, was built to store and maintain aircraft, as well as a control tower and administrative offices. The space was leased to tenants, creating a revenue stream for the airport.

1942

The First Army Air Force took control of the airport as a fighter and training base. In 1945, they returned control to the state.

1950

Air traffic reached record levels with 120,000 passengers and 4 million pounds of cargo.

1961

Construction of a new airport terminal was completed to accommodate landing of larger jets.

1932

Hillsgrove State Airport sponsored an “air pageant”, which included appearances by famous early pilots Jimmy Wedell, Russell Boardman, and Capt. Fred Williams.

1935

The construction of concrete runways began and installation of a two-way radio station, a federally designated airway double-light beacon for night flyers, and a radio beam navigation system, the only one in New England at the time.

1938

The airport renamed Theodore Francis Green State Airport in honor of Green, who served as Rhode Island’s Governor and U.S. Senator.

1939

The Rhode Island National Guard moved to the airport and began anti-submarine patrols to protect coastal shipping and convoys.

1958

Rhode Island received a grant of $150,000 for construction of a control tower and fire station, Warwick Ladder 8.

1978

The State of Rhode Island released the first draft of their updated Master Plan—which represented the official policy regarding present and future use of Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport.

1986

Pan Am started service to New York from PVD.

1990

Delta started service at PVD with nonstop service to Atlanta, GA and Bangor, ME.

1996

Major airport expansion resulted including the development of the Bruce Sundlun Terminal Building, additional parking, and four more gates at the North Concourse.

Southwest is presently PVD’s largest airline. In 1996, Southwest started PVD service with nonstop service to Baltimore, Chicago Midway, Nashville, Orlando, and Tampa.

1993

The Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC), a quasipublic agency, and division of Commerce Corporation became the administrator and operator of the airport.

2005

Annual passenger traffic reached 5.7 million travelers.

2010

The InterLink Transportation Hub opened along with a rental car facility and MBTA commuter rail service. On September 27th, 2021, Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport will celebrate its 90th anniversary.

2014

Ground is broken for federally funded Runway Expansion Project expanding the runway by 1,534 feet.

2015

From 2015 through 2018, Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport begins to attract new international routes to Cabo Verde, Germany, Portugal, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, French West Indies, and Canada.

2018

Listed as one of the fastest-growing airports in the U.S., reaching all-time highs for routes, recruiting nine additional airlines and adding 27 nonstop routes.

2020

Ranked a top five best small airport in the U.S. by three major travel publications, USA Today, Travel + Leisure, and Condé Nast Traveler.

2021

Legislation approves airport name change to Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport to increase state familiarity and brand recognition to support tourism and economic development.

2017

Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport becomes the Official Airport of the New England Patriots. Runway 5-23 was opened for use at a length of 8,700 feet to enable more longerrange nonstop flights, and enhanced safety.

2013

JetBlue had its inaugural flight in November 2013 to Orlando.

2019

Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport lands approximately $25 million grant for airport improvements. Senator Jack Reed helped secure the funding.

2021

PVD is proud to have been chosen to serve as one of Breeze Airway’s inaugural airports! Breeze Airways offers service four times a week between PVD and Charleston, SC (CHS); Norfolk, VA (ORF), and Pittsburgh, PA (PIT).