House Passes Bill To Rename T.F. Green Airport

WARWICK, RI — The R.I House of Representatives on Tuesday passed legislation to rename T.F. Green airport in Warwick as “Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport.”

The goal is to promote consumer awareness of the airport’s location and increase domestic and international passenger use of the facility, said Speaker Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly).

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“The name change will assist in marketing the state of Rhode Island to both leisure and business travelers," Kennedy said in a news release. "Currently, it’s one of only 32 airports in the country that do not have a city, state or region in the name. It’s important that we do what we can to encourage our tourism economy and bring the airport back to its pre-COVID-19 success.”

The airport was established in 1931 as Hillsgrove State Airport. In 1938, it was renamed T.F. Green Airport in honor of Rhode Island Governor and U.S. Senator Theodore Francis Green.

Airport executives have said the name change will increase awareness of Rhode Island’s main airport while continuing to honor the memory of T.F. Green.

The measure now moves to the Senate, which has passed similar legislation (2021-S 0519) introduced by Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick).