Listen to this articleOKLAHOMA CITY – The city’s largest airport has a new name and brand that combines the state’s aviation history with a forward-looking focus.
The City Council on Tuesday approved a joint resolution with the Oklahoma City Airport Trust to change the name of Will Rogers World Airport to OKC Will Rogers International Airport.
Although they voted for the change, some council members said they would have preferred to stay with World rather than International.
Airport Director Jeff Mulder told the council the word “international” is consistent with industry standards and is important as the airport develops its U.S. Customs facility, which will bring international services to Oklahoma City.
Barbara Peck, councilwoman for the Third District, whose district includes the airport, said she was pleased with the change to “international.”
“I think it elevates our airport to a class that’s different than what it’s been in the past,” Peck said. “When we promote this airport, it’s to airlines – not just customers – and to encourage them to offer more nonstop flights and international flights and offer all these different amenities so our customers have more options.”
Mulder said airport management decided last fall to update the airport’s website to more modern standards and make it more user-friendly. They also looked at the name and branding. The trust hired Nominee Design LLC to do the redesign.
Opinions on the name and logo were gathered through interviews with stakeholders and passengers, as well as a public survey which generated 5,994 responses.
“Certainly there was support for keeping ‘Will Rogers’ and his history in the community and his connection to aviation,” Mulder said.
Making OKC the focus of the new airport name will leverage the city’s internationally recognized name while also aligning with the airport’s international airport code, officials said.
“We’re pretty much going beyond the community and promoting the airport and the community by flying the flag to bring air service and real estate development to the airport. One of the challenges is that the Will Rogers World Airport name is not very well known outside of Oklahoma City,” Mulder said.
“OKC, as you know, is a truly international brand. Of course, that has a lot to do with our Oklahoma City Thunder, but people know OKC everywhere they travel,” he said.
Ward 8 Councilman Mark Stonecipher said he was pleased to keep Will Rogers’ name in recognition of his “important role in advancing aviation.” But most importantly, the new name “highlights Oklahoma City, which people all over the world now know.”
A historic photo of Will Rogers and Wiley Post with an airplane served as inspiration for the new logo, Mulder said. It pays homage to the curved shapes of the airplane and was incorporated into the K of OKC.
It will take some time to put the new logo in many places throughout the airport and on branded items such as shuttles, he said.
