A Message From Iftikhar Ahmad

A Message From

Iftikhar Ahmad

As our state and the nation continue on our healing process from COVID-19, we take pride in having helped Rhode Island through these difficult times and eagerly look forward to a strong recovery in the future. Of course, our hearts will always be with those who have suffered the many impacts of the pandemic. Recovering from such losses will neither be quick nor easy, yet we are encouraged by the slow and steady revitalization of our state’s travel and tourism economy.

Now, more than ever, it is important to recognize the vital role of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) in operation and support of our state’s public airports. In the past years, RIAC has served our state well, enhancing our market share with new airlines, new destinations, and more convenient routes to provide our region with more connections to the world than ever before. For example, in 2016, Rhode Island was served by just seven airlines providing 17 nonstop routes. By 2018, we recruited an additional nine airlines to serve Rhode Island, adding another 27 nonstop routes. As a result, PVD was one of the fastest-growing airports in the United States, increasing the number of airlines by 57% and increasing the number of nonstops by 47% in the last five years.

More recently, thanks to the overwhelming support of the legislators in our General Assembly and the backing of Governor Dan McKee, legislation to rename the state airport has been signed into law. Our new name, Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport, stands to increase the airport’s brand awareness, attracting more travelers to our airport and the Ocean State. As we approach the 90th anniversary of the airport this fall, our new name provides improved geographic identification for the airport, which better positions Rhode Island’s main airport to support the state’s economy and tourism sector and stands to have a lasting positive impact on our state’s economy.

Although the pandemic has impacted airline routes throughout the nation, Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport is poised to help our state’s aviation-related economy prosper in the future. We take pride in working closely with our airline partners and our airportbased businesses and employees to foster a safe, healthy, and happy travel experience for our customers. To that end, I again thank all of our tireless airport personnel who have helped maintain emergency travel and essential airport cargo deliveries to our region during our nation’s time of need. We take pride in how our team has worked to keep travelers healthy and safe now and into the future. We realize a return to passenger volume seen before the pandemic will take many years of hard work, but we eagerly look forward to welcoming back each of you back as you embark on your future “safe travels!”

Warm regards,

Iftikhar Ahmad President and CEO Rhode Island Airport Corporation

Our number of airlines have increased by 57%, and our number of nonstops have increased by 47% in the last five years. ”