A South Florida airport began operating Thursday under a new name — President Donald J. Trump International Airport — after a Florida law shifted naming authority to the state and required the rebrand. Officials say the transition is largely a branding change, with some aviation identifiers scheduled to update in phases.
A South Florida airport officially changed its name on Thursday to President Donald J. Trump International Airport, replacing the long-running Palm Beach International Airport name used by the county-owned facility.
Airport officials said passengers will see a mix of old and new branding during the transition period, as signage and displays are replaced over the coming weeks.
A Boeing 757 owned by the Trump Organization — often referred to as “Trump Force One” — was reported as the first aircraft to arrive after the change took effect, landing shortly after 5 a.m. Eric Trump, a Trump Organization executive, was among the passengers and celebrated the new “DJT” initials appearing on boarding passes.
The airport’s widely used three-letter IATA booking code is scheduled to change from PBI to DJT on Aug. 18, while other federal aviation identifiers were scheduled to update on July 9 as part of the federal aviation database transition.
The renaming follows legislation signed earlier this year by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, which transferred to the state the authority to name certain major commercial service airports and mandated the Palm Beach airport’s new name. The Florida Senate’s bill summary described the change as being implemented at no cost to Palm Beach County, though public reporting has estimated the broader rebranding work — including new signs and related updates — could cost up to $5.5 million.
Separately, President Trump praised the renaming in a post on his social media platform, calling it a “very big day” for the area and predicting further airport renovations.
