T.F. Green braces for Thanksgiving, Oct. traffic up

T.F. GREEN AIRPORT reported a 10.8 percent bump in passenger traffic for October as the airport prepares for higher than usual traffic during the Thanksgiving weekend. The airport urged passengers to allow extra time to get through security during the holiday rush between Tuesday, Nov. 26, and Sunday, Dec. 1. / COURTESY OFFICE OF THE R.I. SECRTARY OF STATE
T.F. GREEN AIRPORT reported a 10.8 percent bump in passenger traffic for October as the airport prepares for higher than usual traffic during the Thanksgiving weekend. The airport urged passengers to allow extra time to get through security during the holiday rush between Tuesday, Nov. 26, and Sunday, Dec. 1. / COURTESY OFFICE OF THE R.I. SECRTARY OF STATE

WARWICK – Passenger traffic at T.F. Green Airport rose 10.8 percent in October compared with the same period last year, up to 334,587 total passengers from 301,463 passengers in October 2012, according to numbers released by the R.I. Airport Corporation Monday.

The airport’s year-to-date passenger traffic also saw an increase over 2012. T.F. Green’s 3.2 million passengers in the first 10 months of 2013 constituted a 4.3 percent jump from the 2012 figure of 3.1 million.

T.F. Green also saw large year-to-year increases in total cargo enplaned and deplaned. In October, the airport transported roughly 2.6 million pounds of cargo, a 7.4 percent increase over October 2012. Year-to-date cargo tonnage increased 11.5 percent compared with 2012.

The five airlines with the greatest share of T.F. Green’s passenger traffic in October were Southwest Airlines, at 44.3 percent; US Airways, at 23.3 percent; Delta Airlines, at 13.7 percent; United Airlines, at 11.8 percent; and JetBlue Airways, at 6.1 percent.

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Among them, Delta registered the largest a year-over-year bump in passengers in October, rising 53.3 percent. Southwest increased slightly, by 0.39 percent, while United dropped 8.63 percent and US Airways dropped 5.07 percent.

JetBlue did not fly into or out of the airport in October 2012, as its flight service at T.F. Green Airport did not begin until November 2012.

In 2013 so far, 55,065 aircraft have departed from or landed at T.F. Green airport.

On Monday, the R.I. Airport Corporation also issued a travel advisory for passengers preparing to travel through T.F. Green Airport or the InterLink during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, anticipating higher than usual passenger traffic between Tuesday, Nov. 26, and Sunday, Dec. 1.

“Travelers should allow extra time to navigate from the parking areas to ticketing through the security checkpoint,” the release stated. “Customers are advised to check with their carrier for any weather-related delays or cancellations.”

As travelers fly out of T.F. Green, the most noticeable difference this year will be TSA PreCheck, which allows select frequent flyers of participating airlines and members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Trusted Traveler programs to use dedicated lanes for expedited screening. TSA PreCheck travelers are permitted to leave on shoes, light outerwear and belts, as well as leave laptops and compliant liquids in carry-on bags.

For more information about TSA PreCheck, visit tsa.gov/tsa-precheck.

Passengers aged 12 and under are now able to leave their shoes on when going through security checkpoints, and the U.S. Transportation Security Administration has implemented new procedures that reduce, but do not eliminate, pat-downs of passengers 12 and under, the release said.

T.F. Green advised Thanksgiving travelers to carry the necessary photo identification, adhere to TSA regulations regarding the transport of liquids, gels and aerosols, and be aware of what items can and cannot be packed in carry-on luggage.

“Food items such as pies and cakes are permitted but may require further inspection,” the release advised. “Other food items such as wine and cranberry sauce are not permitted though the security checkpoint. These items should be packed in checked luggage or purchased post security, in one of the airport gift shops.”

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