The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has set the date that Palm Beach International Airport in Florida will officially be renamed after President Donald Trump.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the airport will officially be renamed after Trump beginning July 9.
The airport, currently known by the code PBI, is also expected to receive a new three-letter designation, DJT, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said earlier this week, referencing Trump’s initials.
The renaming follows legislation signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in March that transfers naming authority for major commercial airports to the state government.
The measure paved the way for Palm Beach International Airport to become “President Donald J. Trump International Airport,” pending federal approvals.
Palm Beach International Airport confirms transition
PBI had confirmed in a March statement that the transition process would begin in phases, including updates to signage, branding, and public-facing materials.
“The legislation affects only the airport’s name. Operations, ownership, and governance by Palm Beach County, as the owner of PBI, remain unchanged,” the airport said in a March 31 release.
The FAA’s announcement comes as local officials and airport administrators discuss broader expansion and modernization plans for the South Florida airport, which handled nearly nine million passengers over the past year.
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Palm Beach County Administrator Joe Abruzzo told local media that the airport could undergo substantial upgrades to transform it into a “world-class” facility.
Among the proposals under discussion are terminal modernization projects, roadway improvements, expanded airside capacity, and passenger experience enhancements.
The comments echoed remarks Trump made earlier this month during an appearance before the Forum Club in West Palm Beach, where he hinted at major future developments related to the airport.
“We have a lot of things in store,” Trump said on May 1. “A lot of tremendous elements are going to be added, making it bigger and better.”
“I don’t think there’ll be anything as good as your airport will be anywhere in the country,” he added.
Airport officials say many of the proposed projects remain in the planning stage and would require federal approvals, environmental reviews, and long-term funding strategies.
Long-range expansion plans estimated at over $500 million
According to Palm Beach County’s Department of Airports, long-range expansion plans could cost more than $500 million over the next 1 to 2 decades.
The projects reportedly include extending an existing parallel runway to accommodate additional commercial traffic as passenger numbers continue to rise.
Airport authorities have warned that without additional runway capacity, total aircraft operations could reach maximum capacity within the next decade.
During the 12 months ending in March 2026, nearly nine million passengers traveled through the airport, representing a two percent increase compared to the previous year.
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The estimated cost of the renaming effort itself is approximately $5.5 million, according to local reports, though officials say they expect state funding assistance to help cover the expense.
The proposal to rename the airport sparked political debate in Florida before county commissioners approved the measure in a narrow 4-3 vote following a contentious public hearing.
Democratic lawmakers opposed the move, arguing that naming a major public airport after a sitting president was inappropriate. Supporters, however, framed the change as recognition of Trump’s ties to Palm Beach and his political influence within the state.
The agreement governing the renaming reportedly prevents the Trump Organization from profiting directly from airport operations tied to the new branding.
PBI is one of South Florida’s busiest travel hubs and has received multiple industry recognitions in recent years, including rankings from Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and J.D. Power.
Airport officials say daily operations and passenger services will continue without interruption during the transition process.
