Palm Beach airport officially renamed after Trump, begins phased transition from PBI to DJT

Palm Beach International Airport, one of the busiest airports in Florida, has officially been renamed President Donald J Trump International Airport. The rebranding, which took effect on Thursday, also includes a new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airport identifier, changing from PBI to DJT.

The move makes it the first major operational US airport to be named after a sitting president.

The transition is being carried out in stages to minimise disruption for airlines and passengers.

From July 9, FAA systems, air traffic control, weather reporting and flight planning services began using the new identifiers DJT and KDJT. However, commercial travellers will continue to see the familiar PBI airport code on airline tickets and baggage tags for another 40 days.

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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) code is scheduled to switch to DJT on August 18. Airlines, including Delta, JetBlue and American Airlines, have introduced temporary system updates to ensure passengers searching for "PBI" are automatically directed to the renamed airport.

'Trump Force One' first to land

The new branding became operational at 5:01 a.m. Eastern Time, with the Trump Organization's Boeing 757, popularly known as "Trump Force One", becoming the first aircraft to land under the airport's new identity.

Eric Trump, who was on board the flight, welcomed the move in a post on X.

"There is no person who has done more for Florida and our country, and no one more deserving of this incredible honour," he wrote, adding that he looked forward to seeing the initials "DJT" on his boarding pass.

President Donald Trump also praised the renaming on Truth Social, describing it as "a great honour" and saying the airport would become "one of the greatest and most spectacular airports anywhere in the world."

Renaming backed by Florida law

The renaming follows legislation passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in March. The airport is located just a few miles from Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach.

Palm Beach County has also signed a licensing agreement allowing the airport to use Trump's name and likeness for branding. Under the agreement, no royalties or licensing fees will be paid to the Trump Organization.

Officials estimate that replacing road signs, terminal branding and airport wayfinding systems will cost up to $5.5 million. Airport authorities said flight operations, parking and security screening will continue without disruption during the transition.