Editorial: Hey RIAC! Why offer $1M to an out-of-state 

company?

Just days left to comment online

Jul 19, 2012 

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On the face of it, scheduled air service between Block Island and T.F. Green sounds like a great 

idea. Many of us have friends or family members coming from afar who struggle with the 

logistics of getting here. Many of us also long to reach the capital more easily.

That's why the Rhode Island Airport Corporation's application for $900,000 in federal funds for 

seasonal flights seems, at first glance, like a no brainer. For $60 each way, the island would be 

linked to the Warwick airport, with its train station to Providence and ever-expanding flight 

options around the country. And in the winter, when demand is low, the plane would fly Puerto 

Rico to Culebra, ensuring wintertime revenue to keep the service alive. What a neat solution.

But a look at the grant application raises some questions. Why is RIAC making a joint 

application with the Puerto Rican Tourism Company — when the Block Island Tourism Council, 

or any other local body, was never asked for its opinion? Is one-click accessibility on travel 

websites, and the expanded tourism that will come with it, what Block Island really wants? And 

why, more than anything else, is RIAC sponsoring Cape Air, a company that started in 

Massachusetts and now flies all over the globe, over homegrown New England Airlines?

True, Westerly and Block Island's New England Airlines doesn't have the agreements in place 

with bigger airlines that Cape Air does. It could pursue them, if given time. But time is exactly

what the company didn't get. RIAC — a state entity — gave this homestate company a matter of 

weeks to respond to its application, while it's been talking about the idea with Cape Air for years.

Cape Air, it's interesting to note, is well connected; founder and CEO Dan Wolf is a state senator 

in Massachusetts.

In the grant application, which is available online, RIAC says New England Airlines isn't 

interested in pursuing scheduled service. That's not true; just ask company owner Bill Bendokas.

Despite Cape Air's protestations, the new service appears certain to cut into New England 

Airlines profits, which are not grand to begin with. AirFlamenco in Culebra is apparently facing 

the same problem. Interstate Navigation faced a similar situation a few years ago, when an 

upstart company started the high-speed ferry. Its solution? It bought the service that was 

otherwise skimming off its summer profits. With state and federal funds backing Cape Air, it's 

hard to imagine that scenario repeating in this case.

Why not give the $900,000 in federal funds, and another $250,000 in state support, to our 

homestate company, instead? Why not encourage the local airline to fly high? The jobs and 
money this service would bring should stay with a Rhode Island company. Bendokas and his 

crew already know how to handle the tricky island landing strip, already know how to service the 

Islander airplanes that Cape Air would have to buy to fly here. And Lois and Bill are here for us, 

year round, when we're sick, when we need medications, when the ferry's not running, when time 

is of the essence, and when we simply want some Chinese food flown over. They're a lifeline 

service, and we need them.

There are still a few more days to comment on the federal bid process. Follow this link to let the 

federal Department of Transportation know what you think. Convenience is great, but not at any 

cost. Whatever happens, Block Islanders should be doing their best to make sure the airline 

we've relied on for 42 years doesn't get hurt.

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