New Montreal air-taxi service touts ease of Green

By JOHN HOWELL
Posted 10/16/18

By JOHN HOWELL -- Remember the days when you didn't have to clear security to board an airplane and, for that matter, you could arrive at the airport 15 minutes before departure and still make the flight? Those days are back if you want to fly to Montreal...

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

New Montreal air-taxi service touts ease of Green

Posted

Remember the days when you didn’t have to clear security to board an airplane and, for that matter, you could arrive at the airport 15 minutes before departure and still make the flight?

Those days are back if you want to fly to Montreal from Green Airport.

Beginning Nov. 5 those flying Regional Sky to Montreal will be able to walk up to the first level ticket counter, get checked in and walk out a door to a 19-passenger Twin Turbo Prop Beechcraft Monday through Friday for the hour-long flight. It’s going to be as simple as that.

At the other end, the flight will arrive at St. Hubert Airport, which is closer to the city than Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. And as state, city and tourism officials heard at Thursday’s announcement, the Green to Montreal service is the first commercially scheduled flight at St. Hubert.

Green Airport rolled out the red carpet for Regional Sky with the governor, leaders in the House and Senate, Warwick Mayor Joseph Solomon and Rhode Island Airport Corporation board chairman Jonathan Savage extending the welcome and underscoring the importance of the airport to the state and city economy.

The reception equaled those for Frontier, Allegiant, Air Canada and Norwegian Air, all new carriers at Green since Iftikhar Ahmad assumed the role of RIAC president and CEO two years ago this month. Ahmad has made an increase in nonstop destinations from Green a priority, prompting a nearly 20 percent increase in Green passenger traffic in the last year toward a goal of reclaiming the 5.5 million zenith of 2005.

Also on Thursday RIAC announced that JetBlue Airlines would commence nonstop daily service to West Palm Beach starting Feb. 14, 2019. The airlines will be using the 150-seat Airbus A320.

But it was Regional Sky that got top billing.

Lending an element of intrigue to the event, media advisories only said that an international carrier announcement would be made. Further, not until James Gallagher, President and CEO of Regional Sky stood at the podium, did the cover come off a banner making it clear of the Montreal connection.

Gallagher said the service in some respects was like going back to the old days of flying when airports were smaller. He called Green a “target market” for the airlines. Roundtrip fares as advertised on the Regional Sky website are in the range of $450.

Governor Gina Raimondo confessed with so many announcements of new destinations and flights that she was running short of stories, like “Green is taking off.”

“We are welcoming you with open arms and we’ll work with you to make this a success,” she said. She said since Ahmad has come to Green the number of direct destination flights have almost doubled.

As RIAC has done for other airlines starting new service from Green, Ahmad said after the press conference that Regional Sky would receive incentives, including funding for a marketing program that will be run by RIAC as well as a waiver of landing fees for two years.

Raimondo also spoke of the state’s economy, pointing out that the state’s rate of unemployment is the lowest it has been in 20 years. She said Green Airport is a piece to the puzzle of the economy, adding that it provides important services to big and small business.

“I feel we’re just getting going,” she said.

Warwick representative and House Majority Leader K. Joseph Shekarchi likewise talked of the importance of the airport to the state’s economy.

“Better days are coming for us,” he assured.

Warwick senator and Senate Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey also spoke of the linkage between the airport and the state’s economy.

Solomon talked of the city’s relationship with RIAC.

“This is a partnership that makes things happen,” he said.

Jane Foyle who said she is charged with overseeing the building a terminal at St. Herbert and the service said the Green-Montreal flight is the first air taxi to the airport. With a 7,800-foot runway, she said St. Hebert is capable of accommodating 737 jets.

As he has done at virtually every announcement of increased service, Savage urged people to take advantage of the service because if they didn’t, it won’t be there. He also thanked Ahmad and his team for their work and the volunteer efforts made by his board.

Comments

1 comment on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • Justanidiot

    more noise and pollution and taxpayers kicked out of their homes. were are you master taxed payers mayer. we need you to reneogtiate the contract with the airport and stop this reckless and dangerous expansion

    Friday, October 19, 2018 Report this