Palm Beach airport takes Trump name as code shifts to DJT

The airport serving West Palm Beach, Florida, has been renamed Donald J. Trump International Airport, with federal aviation systems beginning a transition that will change its identifier from PBI to DJT. The Federal Aviation Administration said the new name took effect Thursday, marking the first time a U.S. airport has been named for a sitting president, CNBC reported.

The change affects airline booking systems, airport signage and public materials, with the airport saying in an online FAQ that updates to branding, signs and passenger-facing information will be phased in over time. The facility was previously known as Palm Beach International Airport.

The FAA locational identifier is moving from PBI to DJT as part of the renaming. The International Air Transport Association code change is scheduled for Aug. 18, according to the airport information cited by CNBC. Airport codes are used by airlines, travel agents, airport operators and passengers to identify facilities across booking, baggage and operational systems.

United Airlines and Delta Air Lines began showing the new DJT airport code on their booking pages Thursday, CNBC reported. Travelers could still search for the airport using the former PBI code during the transition. More than a dozen airlines serve the facility, including Delta, United, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

Funding and approval

The renaming follows legislation signed earlier this year by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The FAA later approved the change, according to CNBC.

The airport estimates the transition will cost $5.5 million. Florida has allocated $2.75 million for the project, while the balance will come from the local Department of Airports’ operating budget and capital improvement program, according to the airport’s FAQ.

The airport said the implementation will cover changes across public materials and physical infrastructure. In its FAQ, the airport wrote: “While we recognize that the required name change may be received in different ways by our passengers, we’re grateful for your continued support through this transition period.” It added that its focus remained on providing “a safe, reliable and welcoming airport experience.”

Proximity to Mar-a-Lago

The airport is near President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach. CNBC reported that Trump uses the facility frequently for flights in and out of South Florida.

Eric Trump wrote on X that Trump Force One, the nickname used for the private jet owned by the Trump Organization, would be the first aircraft to land at the airport under its new name. “As a son, and someone who flies out of this airport nearly every day, I will forever be proud to see the initials ‘DJT’ on my boarding pass,” he wrote.

The renaming gives the airport a new public identity while leaving its role in South Florida’s travel network unchanged. The operational shift will depend on airlines, federal databases and airport systems completing the code and branding conversion over the coming weeks.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.