WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Palm Beach International Airport officially became President Donald J. Trump International Airport on Thursday, marking a historic shift for one of South Florida's busiest travel hubs and making it the ninth commercial airport in the United States named after a president.
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The renaming took effect under Chapter 2026-15 of Florida law. By Thursday morning, crews were already at work replacing signage throughout the terminal, swapping out the familiar "PBI" identity that locals and travelers had used for decades in favor of new branding bearing the initials "DJT."
Boarding passes issued Thursday already reflect the airport's new name. But when it come to finding the airport online, officials said travelers should continue to search "West Palm Beach" or use the existing airport code "PBI" for bookings, reservations, baggage tracking and check-ins through Aug. 18, 2026.
That is the date the airport's International Air Transport Association code will officially transition from PBI to DJT.
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Travelers react to the change
Inside the terminal Thursday, reactions from travelers ranged from enthusiasm to indifference. Some passengers said they were caught off guard by the change.
"I didn't even know it was changing," one passenger said while arriving at the terminal.
For others, the reality of the rebrand set in only after seeing the new signs.
"I heard of it and then it really, really hit me when I saw the signs driving in," one traveler said.
Carla Hamilton, a traveler passing through the airport Thursday, said she welcomed the renaming.
"I love it, couldn't love it more," Hamilton said. "He deserves the name of this airport."
Not all travelers shared that sentiment. Dawn Steadman, who was passing through the airport Thursday, said her hesitation was less about politics than personal preference.
"I'm at PBI today," Steadman said. "I just don't like change so much."
One passenger acknowledged the divide the renaming had sparked among those moving through the terminal. "Some will be happy, some of them might not be," the passenger said.
Another traveler said the debate held little interest.
"I could care less about his name," the traveler said.
Operations and ownership unchanged
Despite the new name and branding, officials were emphatic that the renaming carries no operational or administrative consequences for travelers.
"There is no impact to airport services, flights or the passenger experience," officials said in a statement.
Palm Beach County will continue to oversee airport operations, finances and policy decisions, according to the Palm Beach County Department of Airports. The department said it coordinated with airlines, federal agencies and airport partners ahead of the transition to ensure no disruption to service.
The airport's website will remain pbia.org during the initial transition period, though social media accounts and digital branding are already being updated.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
