Director: Green runway expansion vital

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A prosperous financial future for T.F. Green airport relies heavily on the proposed runway expansion, according to the chief executive of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation.

Kevin Dillon addressed the Rhode Island Economic Policy Council Wednesday morning in Providence.

Plagued by declining revenue; a 6 percent drop in passenger traffic for 2008; and talk that Southwest Airlines, Green's biggest carrier, may soon provide service to Boston; Dillon admitted times are tough right now.

"Certainly I would rather that we were able to keep the monopoly on Southwest service that we have in Southern New England," Dillon said.

However, he said the situation is not beyond repair.

Dillon pointed to the possibility of several other discount carriers coming to Green, should Southwest set up shop in Boston, and to a European carrier which has expressed interest in providing flights out of the airport. However, he said the length of the current runway could impede those possibilities.

"The current runway length that we have today - 7,300 feet - will not allow us to be competitive going forward. The runway has to be expanded," Dillon said.

The expansion plan currently favored would be 8,700 feet to the south - toward Main Ave. That plan requires the removal of 10 homes and 10 businesses.

The Federal Aviation Administration is currently considering the proposed plans and could make a decision within three months.