WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — On Thursday, a South Florida airport officially changed its name to the President Donald J. Trump International Airport. This significant transformation marks a notable shift, as Palm Beach International Airport's signs have been removed to make way for the new branding. Airport officials noted on Facebook that this rebranding will not happen overnight, so travelers will see a merging of the classic look and the new elements in the terminal over the coming weeks.

The first aircraft to touch down at the renamed airport was "Trump Force One," a Boeing 757 owned by The Trump Organization, arriving shortly after 5 a.m. Among the passengers was Eric Trump, the former president's son. The Trump family frequently utilizes the West Palm Beach airport during visits to Mar-a-Lago, their estate situated in nearby Palm Beach. Earlier this year, a road connecting the airport to Trump’s estate was renamed Donald J. Trump Boulevard.

In a post made on X, Eric Trump expressed pride in the name change, stating, "There is no person who has done more for Florida and our country, and no one more deserving of this incredible honor." He also highlighted his personal connection to the airport, mentioning that he flies out of it nearly every day and anticipates seeing the initials "DJT" on his boarding pass.

While the name change to President Donald J. Trump International Airport became official on Thursday, the airport code will transition from PBI to DJT on August 18. President Trump later took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to commend the renaming. He described it as "a very big day in Palm Beach, Florida," expressing gratitude for the local support and referring to the airport as "one of the Greatest and Most Spectacular Airports anywhere in the World."

Earlier this year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation that facilitated the airport's renaming. The costs associated with updating signage, branding, and other modifications related to the name change are anticipated to reach approximately $5.5 million.

Passenger opinions about the new name vary. Keegan Collett, who was departing for Cincinnati on the airport's opening day, admitted surprise at the new title but expressed a nonchalant attitude toward it. “At the end of the day, it’s just the name of an airport,” Collett remarked, adding that he believes there are more significant issues to consider.

Meanwhile, in Dandridge, Tennessee, an event was held on the same morning to rename the I-40 Bridge to the Donald J. Trump Bridge. Attending the ceremony were Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, and Representative Tim Burchett, who all praised Trump's contributions to the region. Bessent stated that “no one is more deserving” of the honor than Trump, who garnered 82% of the vote in Jefferson County during the 2024 general election.