West Palm Beach airport takes Trump name and DJT code
The FAA said the former Palm Beach International Airport is now Donald J. Trump International Airport, with an IATA code change set for Aug. 18.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
2 min read
The airport serving West Palm Beach, Florida, has been renamed for President Donald Trump, a change that affects its public name, flight systems and airport codes. The Federal Aviation Administration said the former Palm Beach International Airport is now Donald J. Trump International Airport.
The FAA said the change took effect Thursday. CNBC reported that it is the first U.S. airport named for a sitting president.
The airport’s FAA location identifier is changing from PBI to DJT as part of the switch, according to the FAA and the airport. The airport said in an online FAQ that the International Air Transport Association code change is scheduled for Aug. 18.
Travelers may see both codes during the transition. CNBC reported that United Airlines and Delta Air Lines began adding the DJT code to booking systems Thursday, while searches using the older PBI code could still find the airport.
The airport said updates to signs, branding and other public-facing materials will be carried out in stages. More than a dozen airlines serve the airport, including Delta, United, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, according to CNBC.
State funding covers half the cost
The renaming follows legislation signed earlier this year by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to CNBC. The FAA later approved the change.
The airport said the project is expected to cost $5.5 million. According to the airport’s FAQ, Florida set aside $2.75 million for the work, and the rest will come from the local Department of Airports’ operating budget and capital improvement program.
In the FAQ, the airport acknowledged that passengers may react differently to the required name change. It said its focus remains on providing a safe, reliable and welcoming airport experience during the transition.
The facility sits near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, CNBC reported. Trump uses the airport frequently, according to CNBC.
Eric Trump wrote on X that Trump Force One, the nickname for the Trump Organization’s private jet, would be the first aircraft to land at the newly renamed airport. He also wrote that he would be proud to see the DJT initials on his boarding pass because he flies from the airport nearly every day.
This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.