Airport Authority Votes to Change Airport Name

The Piedmont Triad Airport Authority voted Dec. 19, to begin the process of changing the name of the Piedmont Triad International Airport to the Central North Carolina International Airport. The vote came at the regular December meeting of the Airport Authority board.

“Changing the name of the airport is a big step. We do not take that lightly,” Airport Authority Chairman Steve Showfety said after the meeting. “But it is an important step. We need a brand that is recognized around the world, because we are competing around the world.”

Naming the airport the Central North Carolina International Airport focuses on a key benefit of the airport – its central location in the state and on the East Coast, Showfety said. Authority members believe putting that benefit out front will help in economic development efforts.

“This airport is in an excellent position to compete in the global marketplace. We have a thousand acres ready for development, we have built a taxiway bridge to provide access to that land, we have an unparalleled highway system around the airport, we have global industry located at our airport - but our brand is not recognized in the global marketplace,” Showfety said.

“We needed to acknowledge that fact and address it,” he added.

During the board’s meeting, Authority members agreed that a name that focuses on the geographic location of the airport will help in industrial recruitment.

The change in name has been a topic of discussion for several months among Airport Authority members, elected officials, economic development professionals and regional business leaders, Showfety said. Board members have discussed the name change with these leaders and have sought their feedback.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Showfety said. “The community appears to be ready for a change.”

So what can the public expect? There will be no immediate impact from the board’s action, said Kevin Baker, the airport’s executive director. The process of developing a new brand and implementing changes to signage, the airport’s website, letterhead and other outward signs of the airport’s identity will take several months to develop.

“Once we have developed a new look, we will roll it out for the public to see and understand,” Baker said. “Planning and executing the name change will take time. We want to create as little confusion as possible.”

“The airport is an important employer in central North Carolina,” Showfety said. “This new branding will help it continue to grow and provide jobs for our communities.