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ON THE HORIZON: An aerial view of the completed expansion of the main runway at T.F. Green Airport, lengthened from 7,200 feet to 8,700 feet, allowing for the ability to fly nonstop to the West Coast, as well as opening up opportunities for expanded international trade and domestic commerce. / COURTESY R.I. AIRPORT CORP. — T.F. GREEN PASSENGER TRAFFIC increased 16.9 percent in January. Monthly cargo traffic tripled year over year. / COURTESY R.I. AIRPORT CORP.

Passenger growth hasn’t met initial projections, but T.F. Green Airport supporters insist a $250M upgrade will pay off

By Mary MacDonald

November 10, 2017 6:30 am

Fifteen years ago, when the planning process for extending the primary runway at Warwick’s T.F. Green Airport had already started, projections of airport use showed nothing but growth, with the expectation of 11 million passengers by 2020. As it turned out, those predictions were more hopeful than accurate. Airport passenger traffic topped out in 2005…