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The Oklahoma City Council unanimously approves a new name for Will Rogers World Airport. Yesterday's vote means the airport will now be called 'OKC Will Rogers International Airport'.
Councilwoman Nikki Nice is disappointed the 'World' part is going away. "When I think of international, that's not something I just say, I travel internationally, I travel the world and for us to remove world takes away the nostalgia of Oklahoma City," said Nice. "For us to look forward is great, but to keep the nostalgia I believe would have been necessary because that continues to create the uniqueness of what Oklahoma City, in my opinion is."
Councilman Todd Stone agreed. "I wish it was going to remain World Airport, just because its different, right. So you look at it differently going wow, its different," said Stone.
Despite the feelings, councilors voted in favor of renaming the airport, "OKC Will Rogers International Airport."
With the change, the airport gets a new logo and new branding that will be rolled out in the coming months.
“Promotion of the Airport and the community drove the name and logo change,” Airports Director Jeff Mulder said. “Adding OKC and International to the name helps us identify and market the airport and community to airlines and businesses around the world.”
“The refreshed brand identity comes at a time when Oklahoma City, as a home base and destination, is actively investing in infrastructure citywide, and this gateway brand serves as a welcoming beacon for visitors and residents alike,” Mulder added.
The OKC Airport Trust said multiple interviews with local community leadership and more than 5,500 respondents from a public survey supported adding an Oklahoma City identity, keeping the “Will Rogers” namesake and adding International to the airport's name.
The Airport Trust said the name change was important, saying modified from Will Rogers World Airport, OKC Will Rogers International Airport retains the connection to Will Rogers’ aviation legacy, but also adds the international airport code by featuring the city’s most internationally prevalent moniker - OKC - and addresses an increasingly global audience with the addition of “International.”