Airport terminal celebrates 20 years, serving 90M passengers

By John Howell
Posted 9/27/16

It was 20 years ago and Patti Goldstein remembers the first day of operations at the Bruce Sundlun Terminal like it was yesterday.

The late governor made the terminal “his” project, pushing …

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Airport terminal celebrates 20 years, serving 90M passengers

Posted

It was 20 years ago and Patti Goldstein remembers the first day of operations at the Bruce Sundlun Terminal like it was yesterday.

The late governor made the terminal “his” project, pushing ahead over the din of skeptics who said Rhode Island would never have the airline passenger traffic to justify a two-level structure, no less pay for it. Sundlun had an ace up his sleeve, however – or maybe he was just dealt a lucky hand. The terminal was not only popular, but with the arrival of Southwest Airlines rapidly required an additional four gates. Not all that long after opening, Green Airport earned the designation of the fastest growing airport in the country.

Goldstein, senior vice president of marketing and communications for the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, along with other members of the RIAC staff, greeted travelers as they cleared security Friday afternoon, 20 years to the date since the terminal opened. They thanked travelers for using Green and in celebration of the occasion handed out cookies made by Sweet Indulgence in Pawtuxet and green luggage tags. Live steel drum music lent a festive flare to the occasion.

There was a lot of hoopla when the terminal opened two decades ago. A black tie affair where dignitaries, representatives of the airlines, and celebrities were handed passports to visit food stations featuring European, Asian, and Western cuisine was held the night prior to the transition from the old to the new terminal. There were toasts and many speeches, as Goldstein recalls. Then there was a community open house, and an estimated 25,000 people came out to see the new facility.

It was a big deal. The new terminal was featured on NBC’s “Today Show” with Willard Scott.

Then the opening was for real. The celebration carried over. Palm trees lined the concourse to the gates. There was music and lots of happy faces.

As flights started arriving, Goldstein said more than one passenger looked completely confused. This wasn’t the airport they left, and they came to the conclusion they had boarded the wrong plane and had landed somewhere else.

In those 20 years, 90 million have passed through the terminal, said Peter Frazier, interim RIAC president and CEO, who was among the ranks of those greeting travelers. Joining him for a brief stint was Mayor Scott Avedisian, who made a point of handing out the cookies with the words “Green Airport” or simply a large “20” in frosting. He didn’t touch the cookies with “PVD.” While located in Warwick, Green is listed as Providence on airline schedules.

There’s no knowing what the next 20 years will bring to Green. The airport and the terminal have seen many changes, including the construction of additional gates, parking garages, a maintenance garage, and the Interlink to a commuter rail station and rental car facility. Passenger traffic has declined from an apex of more than 5.7 million in 2005 and has been inching back since the depths of the recession. And, as the residents of Warwick know, the airport is growing with the lengthening of the main runway to 8,700 feet. That work is to be completed by December 2017.

Apart from the passengers over the last 20 years, Frazier pointed out that the airport has a $1.2 billion economic impact on the state and that it is responsible for 11,500 direct, indirect, and induced jobs.

One thing in Green’s future is rocking chairs in the terminal. There will also be more public art and music, said Goldstein. She’s good at making Green friendly … and she likes a party.

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  • richardcorrente

    Avedisian gave the tax revenue of over one hundred houses to the airport and in return, all the citizens of Warwick got in return was soil pollution, air pollution, water pollution, and noise pollution. As Mayor I WILL renegotiate the Airport agreement. We have nothing to lose. I met with Kelly Fredricks, the previous President and CEO at a meeting of the RIAC and "Friends of Warwick Ponds". There were about 20 of us in their boardroom. I asked "Kelly, if we can prove that your airport is polluting our Warwick Pond, would you agree to clean it at the airports expense?" He said "We can't. It's illegal!" I never spoke to him after that.

    Ten minutes later I got tapped on the shoulder by the guy next to me, who said "Rick, if you have a clean-up day at Warwick Pond I will get my feet as muddy as you get yours." I decided I respected and liked him and learned a few weeks later that he was named acting CEO and President. His name is Peter Frazier and I walked away with the impression that he wants the airport to be a better neighbor. I plan on helping him do just that. As Mayor this will be a top priority.My critics have said "It can't be done. It's already a done-deal."

    My critics are wrong.

    Richard Corrente

    Endorsed Democrat for Mayor

    Tuesday, September 27, 2016 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Rick , please be specific. What parts of the aggreement are you going to re-negotiate? Specifics please, and please reference particular sections of the publicly available agreement.

    Tuesday, September 27, 2016 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    For your reading pleasure Rick.

    http://www.warwickri.gov/sites/warwickri/files/uploads/part_5_sustainable_systems.pdf

    Tuesday, September 27, 2016 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    But wait , there's more.

    http://www.pvdairport.com/documents/financials/faa%20approval%20letter%20-%20may%2022,%202012.pdf

    http://archive.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2012/03/01/ri_airport_operators_ok_runway_deal_with_warwick/

    https://providencechamber.wordpress.com/2012/03/01/warwick-city-council-approves-mou-with-ri-airport-corp/

    http://www.buckeyebrook.org/news/20120301_WB_BuyoutsPartOfAirportAccord.html

    Tuesday, September 27, 2016 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Rob,

    Good question.

    I intend to sit with them and learn what areas they are rigid on and what areas they are flexible on.

    I believe, for example, that they have the ability to spend much more on sound reduction items for their neighboring residences (insulation, windows, trees, shrubs, fences, etc.) than they have. As you will recall they started and then abruptly "ran out of money". One street got half the houses done (an average of $30,000 per house) and the other half was left with nothing.

    Also, I believe they are the main contributor to the pollution of Warwick Pond, in fact I kayaked to the drain from the airport into the pond. I intended to taste the water but as I approached it my nose and eyes were burning. I wisely decided NOT to drink it. I believe they should spend their money on a cleanup project. I will strongly encourage them to do so.

    The important thing to remember here is that the current agreement is wholly unacceptable to me and, I believe, you as well. I won't let it stay in effect as it reads. I WILL improve it. How much and specifically which areas, are a matter of negotiations. If you have any suggestions (not criticisms, positive suggestions), I would love hearing them.

    Rob, you know me to be a principled man. You know I won't stop until the taxpayers get a better agreement from the RIAC.

    You know that I won't rest until they do.

    Please vote for me. I may even let you out fish me, once.

    Thanks again for your input.

    Rick

    Wednesday, September 28, 2016 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Rick,

    The project is nearing completion. What will you re-negotiate when it is complete? Have you even looked at the project specifics or the contracts, all of which are readily available? Its a dead issue, done deal, its over. I dont think they are going to give back any land and rebuild the community that has been destroyed. I dont think they will remove the road that was just built. And I dont think that they will shorten the runway safety zone. Those were the points of contention which prompted the law suit until the spineless mayor and council terminated the suit. Elected or not, you have zero chance of changing an FAA program, ZERO.

    Wednesday, September 28, 2016 Report this