`Package' opens Green to Europe

Norwegian Air to start 16 weekly flights to 5 cities in July

By John Howell
Posted 2/23/17

By JOHN HOWELL Low cost fares to Europe - as little at $65 one way - will be coming to Rhode Island in July and Iftikhar Ahmad, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation expects it will reverse lagging passenger traffic at Green Airport

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

`Package' opens Green to Europe

Norwegian Air to start 16 weekly flights to 5 cities in July

Posted

Low cost fares to Europe – as little at $65 one way – will be coming to Rhode Island in July and Iftikhar Ahmad, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation expects it will reverse lagging passenger traffic at Green Airport and result in tens of millions of dollars in economic impact.

An announcement that Norwegian Air would bring 32 weekly flights to Green to five destinations in Ireland and Scotland is scheduled for this morning. In some respects, the announcement comes as no surprise since Ahmad on more than one occasion has confirmed that RIAC is talking with Norwegian. Furthermore, Norwegian conducted a job fair at the airport to fill the 75 new jobs they will bring to the state.

The surprise is what Ahmad calls a “package deal” where in place of a single destination there will be five.

In addition, Ahmad sees not only the access to Europe as bringing new business to Rhode Island, but that discount fares will “tilt” the face of the competition spurring other airlines to follow suit.

The package as Ahmad described included making $3.75 million in state marketing funds available to Norwegian. He said the airline has agreed to use the funds over the next three years.

RIAC makes available to all airlines opening new routes at Green $750,000 in marketing funds.

Of temporary concern will be construction on the lengthening of Runway 5, which will recommence this spring and won’t be finished until this December. Ahmad said the construction might restrict runway length, which would mean weight restrictions and a reduction of available seats. The two planes Norwegian will be using offer 189 seats.

Norwegian is the sixth largest low-cost carrier in the world with around 6,000 dedicated employees. Customers can choose from nearly 450 routes to more than 150 destinations in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Thailand, the Caribbean and the U.S.

The company was founded in 1993, but only began operating as a low-cost carrier with bigger Boeing 737 aircraft in 2002.

Ahmad said Norwegian would be offering weekly flights to Cork, Shannon, Dublin and Belfast in Ireland and Edinburgh, Scotland.

“There was really robust, aggressive activity between [New England] and Europe. If this sticks with two based aircrafts, we could see a lot more activity and more nonstop destinations that would include the UK,” Ahmad said. He is hopeful of service to Gatwick, Southwestern Europe and the Caribbean. Also, Ahmad said he is vying to have Norwegian open a maintenance facility here. The airlines will be using Gates 7 and 8 as well as currently available counter space.

The announcement brought a flurry of statements from elected officials.

“We are thrilled that Norwegian Air, along with their Boeing 737 MAX jets, will soon be coming to T.F. Green. Although we have had seasonal service to international destinations in more recent years, this new addition will truly lay the foundation for a significant boost in international travel routes,” said Mayor Avedisian. “The conversation has been a long time coming, and with all the recent enhancements to airport, interlink station, as well as accommodations right in City Centre Warwick, the timing could not be better. We are excited to offer both residents and visitors alike new and affordable flight options to Europe, and are confident T.F. Green will appeal to travelers who are looking to stay away from other busy and congested airports.” 

Speaker Nicholas Mattiello said “I was pleased to be part of the team of Rhode Island officials that met on multiple occasions with Norwegian Air officials to convince them that Rhode Island is the place to be.  This is tremendous news that shows our economy is improving and our state is open for business.  The presence of Norwegian Air will mean good-paying jobs for Rhode Islanders, will be a great boost for the activity at T.F. Green Airport, and will bolster our tourism and hospitality industries in Warwick.”

President of the Rhode Island Senate M. Teresa Paiva Weed said, “Low cost transatlantic flights will help Rhode Island become a major point of entry to North America for many travelers. This service further connects the sister cities of Newport and Kinsale, and presents opportunities to grow the tourism economies on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Governor Gina Raimondo weighed in on the announcement in a statement released to the Beacon, noting last year’s return of service to the Azores and said T.F. Green is “consistently rated one of the most convenient places to fly in the country.” She added that the news was good for small businesses trying to access new markets and for working families who have “expanded, affordable” vacation opportunities.

“As Rhode Island’s economy ramps up, major airlines are taking notice of Rhode Island’s potential. Last summer, we celebrated the return of service to the Azores,” she said. “Rhode Island is looking forward to showing off our state’s tremendous coastline, arts community and culinary riches to many new visitors in the coming years.”

Passenger traffic at Green hit a high mark of 5.7 million passengers in 2005 that took a downward spiral with the Great Recession. RIAC has seen some growth over the past year but at 3.6 million passengers in 2016 it’s still a way from the 5 million target.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here