The Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) and the Quonset Development Corporation (QDC) announced Wednesday that they have approved agreements that will expand cargo operations at Green Airport and Quonset Business Park that will create approximately 300 jobs in Rhode Island.

According to a RIAC release, the agreement will result in up to four additional flights from Green daily. Neither the times of those flights or types of aircraft to be used were mentioned.

The agreements are with Pinnacle Logistics based in Dallas, Texas. The company specializes in cargo management services based at aviation hubs throughout the country and offers airport delivery, local delivery, and storage and warehouse management services. Pinnacle will begin operations in Rhode Island later this month. It has been advertising to fill cargo-handling jobs. 

“This development will create hundreds of new jobs at the airport and will better position T.F. Green to be a regional cargo hub,” said Iftikhar Ahmad, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation. “I have every confidence this is just the beginning for T.F. Green and we look forward to working with Pinnacle to support their growth.” 

Asked about the development, Mayor Scott Avedisian responded in an email, “New cargo service has been talked about for a long time. This is a good development for the city. Along with new airlines, new destinations, international flights, hotels, trains, arts development, new construction, and other developments are allowing City Centre Warwick to take off.”

Under the agreement with RIAC, Pinnacle Logistics will lease 75,737 square feet to accommodate up to two commercial cargo aircraft and 2,048 square feet of space in an adjacent cargo building. The agreement will also include up to two additional aircraft parking locations that will be utilized on a pay-per-use basis. The expected activity associated with these operations will involve up to four aircraft operations daily. Pinnacle plans to develop a permanent facility in the near future on the airport premises.

The Beacon did not get answers as to the hours of cargo flights or lease revenues.

Additionally, Pinnacle Logistics will lease a 147,000-square-foot building on 13.4 acres from the QDC in their Business Park at the site of the former Lowe’s store.  

“This is good news for Quonset and for Rhode Island,” said Steven King, P.E., managing director of the QDC. “This agreement will utilize existing space here, and be a wonderful addition to the Business Park, which is already home to 11,000 jobs at over 200 companies.”

“We are very pleased that Pinnacle is establishing this Rhode Island operation,” said Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce Stefan Pryor.  "As a result of this development, Rhode Island will serve as a regional cargo hub in the northeast. Both T.F. Green Airport and Quonset will be prime locations for the Rhode Island operation."

"In order to make this development happen, it was necessary for multiple agencies across state government to coordinate," Pryor said in his statement. Pryor also serves as chairman of the QDC Board of Directors.

"We are grateful to RIAC, Quonset and the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation for synchronizing and advancing their work so effectively. This will mean hundreds of jobs for Rhode Islanders and is yet another win for our state.”

“With this development we have the opportunity to position T.F. Green as a regional cargo hub and it dovetails perfectly with the four commercial airlines that have decided to operate out of the airport this year,” said Jonathan Savage, chairman of RIAC’s board of directors. “This was truly a collaborative effort between RIAC, QDC and the Commerce Corporation that will benefit Rhode Island.”