The deal for CEO Iftikhar Ahmad, retroactive to Oct. 13 — his 10th anniversary leading the system that includes Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport, Block Island, Newport, Quonset, Westerly and North Central airports — is funded by airport revenues, not taxpayer dollars, according to RIAC.

Ahmad's base salary rises to $687,760. He also receives the maximum bonus of up to 20% of his pay, or $137,552, plus an annual $212,585 payment intended, though not required, to fund an annuity for retirement. A separate $55,020 in retirement pay, not included in the contract, brings those components to $1,092,918 per year.

On top of that, RIAC is adding "retention compensation" of $546,459 every six months he remains in the role, or $1,092,918 annually. The total package amounts to $2,185,834 per year.

By comparison, the CEO of Massport, which operates Boston's Logan International Airport, recently received a raise to $481,000 with a 10% bonus.

RIAC Board Chairman Jonathan Savage defended the package in a statement, citing Ahmad's record. "He has elevated every aspect of the airport and has worked tirelessly to achieve an unprecedented rate of growth over the past decade," Savage said. "The board is proud to offer him a package that is reflective of compensation in the airport sector based on an independent study, rewards him for his accomplishments and ensures we retain his services to meet the challenges and opportunities in front of us."

The board also approved a resolution praising Ahmad for what it described as a "fundamental financial turnaround," expanded air service, passenger growth and national recognition, including T.F. Green being named the No. 1 Domestic Airport in the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards readers' survey in 2025 and 2026. The resolution cited the ongoing renovation project at T.F. Green and warned that "disruption or loss of proven executive leadership during this critical period could create meaningful institutional and execution risk."

However, the study RIAC commissioned and made public shows no other leader of a small-sized airport — the category in which it lists T.F. Green — earning more than $920,000 in compensation, with most making well below that amount. The report shows leaders of two medium-sized airports making just over $1 million, but most well below that figure. RIAC notes that most other airports offer a defined pension to their CEO, which RIAC does not.

The contract also includes 28 vacation days, of which Ahmad can cash out up to two unused weeks; eight personal days; and 24 sick days that can carry over annually without limit and be paid out for unused time. In total, he could take up to 12 paid weeks off per year. He also receives a vehicle, with maintenance included, for unlimited use.

The raise comes a year after Ahmad signed a contract with a base salary just under $528,000; other compensation brought his total payout then to around $900,000.

The decision is likely to draw scrutiny in a state where residents closely watch public spending and where the airport's role in the regional economy is a subject of ongoing debate. While RIAC stresses that the money comes from airport revenues, the scale of the increase — and the gap between Ahmad's pay and that of comparable airport leaders — may fuel questions about priorities as the airport undergoes a major renovation.