It’s now - Green International

John Howell
Posted 6/4/15

When Arik De, chief operating officer for Cape Verde Airlines (TACV), bragged at a reception Tuesday at Green Airport that in the last month 87 percent of airline’s flights were on time, there was …

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It’s now - Green International

Posted

When Arik De, chief operating officer for Cape Verde Airlines (TACV), bragged at a reception Tuesday at Green Airport that in the last month 87 percent of airline’s flights were on time, there was a round of applause.

The airline’s inaugural scheduled flight to Green – the airport’s first scheduled overseas international flight – was not one of them. That’s because the flight arrived nearly an hour early.

That didn’t stop the Rhode Island Airport Corporation from giving the 757 and its 177 occupants a watery reception. As the plane taxied to the terminal, fire trucks on either side sprayed skyward to form a welcoming arch. Then the pilot and co-pilot opened their windows and held out American and Cape Verdean flags as they approached the gate.

The occasion was recorded by media cameramen that had been escorted through the baggage-sorting innards of the terminal out onto the tarmac. This was a historic occasion for the airport, one that the governor, airport officials and ambassadors from Cape Verde and this country would crow about at a reception featuring music, beverages and foods from the archipelago of 10 islands off the west coast of Africa.

As of Tuesday, under an agreement reached between the airlines and RIAC, TACV – short for Transportes Aereos de Cabo Verde, the airline’s formal name in Portuguese – ceased flights to Boston’s Logan Airport and started twice-weekly flights on Tuesday and Thursday from Green to Cape Verde. An additional flight will be offered on Wednesday from July 1 through Sept. 9. The Green service is the only direct flight to the island country from North America.

That was good news to many of the departing passengers who packed the terminal. Sisters Madeline and Rosa Cartagena, who live in Brockton, were delighted to be driving to Green instead of Logan. Rosa said not only did they avoid the traffic, but with just one terminal finding the place was easy. They paid $700 for their roundtrip tickets, although others reported fares as high as $1,200.

For Antonia Brito, who has a house in Rhode Island and another in the islands, this was her 36th flight to Cape Verde.

“For me, I’m so happy because I live in Pawtucket,” she said.

Those are the stories that had RIAC president and CEO Kelly Fredericks smiling. They confirm what Fredericks has been saying about the access and convenience of Green. He also sees the international flight as the first “domino” in more service to come.

On June 18, Condor Airlines will initiate direct flights to Frankfurt, Germany, and RIAC continues to have talks with Shannon Airport that could open service to Ireland. Officials of the two airports have had numerous talks – and visits – over the last year and, in fact, Shannon helped RIAC in opening Green’s first duty-free shop.

But the question persists, even with the introduction of these new flights, whether the airport will see traffic turnaround. Fredericks is hopeful the May numbers will be up from a year ago.

The issue, he says, is not that people don’t want to fly out of Green but a lack of seats.

“We don’t have a demand problem,” he said. “We have a capacity problem.”

Cape Verde has a population of 450,000, which equals the number Cape Verdeans living in New England, said Donald Heflin, American ambassador to the country. He said the countries have ties that date back to the whaling days, and that Cape Verdeans have fought in all American wars starting with the Revolution. As for the islands, he described them as having wonderful beaches, fresh food and an abundance of music.

“It’s kind of a well-kept secret,” he said.

Jose Luis Rocha, Cape Verde’s ambassador to the United States, found parallels between the Ocean State and his country in terms of their land area and hard-working people. He said the service “will mean more business, more jobs and stimulate tourism and other business.”

Governor Gina Raimondo also picked up on the potential impact on Rhode Island and how it is one of many pieces to help turn the economy around.

“Yes, we can do it. Yes, we can do it,” she said.

RIAC board chairman Jonathon Savage was delighted by the busy airline counters he discovered on arriving at the terminal.

“This is the type of day I’d like to see at Green every day,” he said.

Improvements being made at the airport bode well for his wish. An extension to Green’s main runway, lengthening it to 8,700 feet, will make it that much easier for airline to offer trans-Atlantic flights as well as nonstop service to the West Coast. The runway addition is projected for a late 2017 completion.

Comments

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  • RIposter

    How many airlines have signed on to increase flights to justify all this money being spent?

    Friday, June 5, 2015 Report this

  • RIposter

    Can we finally change the name to say Warwick instead of Providence?

    Friday, June 5, 2015 Report this

  • dickcoutu

    No. We'll change the name of the airport to Winslow Park International Airport.

    Tuesday, June 9, 2015 Report this