OKC Council Asked to Approve Name Change and Rebranding for Will Rogers World Airport

Oklahoma City’s largest airport is getting a name change as it continues to handle record numbers of passengers and adds international flights.

The name change, which must be finalized by the Oklahoma City City Council on Tuesday, will change the airport from Will Rogers World Airport, a name introduced in the 1960s, to OKC Will Rogers International Airport.

In a recent presentation to the Oklahoma City Airport Trust, General Manager Jeff Mulder said the new branding was chosen after months of public surveys and conversations with local and international travelers.

“We looked at this from the perspective of how we market ourselves outside of Oklahoma City,” Mulder said. “Everyone outside of Oklahoma City knows what Will Rogers World Airport is, but outside of Oklahoma City there wasn’t a lot of recognition, so we wanted to incorporate the Oklahoma City name.”

The name and branding change coincided with an update to the airport trust’s website and the construction of a Federal Inspection Station at the airport, which will be staffed by Customs and Border Protection. Airport officials previously discussed looking to destinations further south as airlines add more connections to Mexico. Oklahoma City is home to Guatemalan and Mexican consulates.

The airport completed its terminal expansion in 2021, adding a gate and boarding bridge for international flights. The final phase of construction includes space on the lower level of the terminal where international passengers are approved for entry into the United States.

Mulder said the rebranding is based on a survey of more than 6,000 people.

“The logo we have today is Will Rogers with a rope around the world,” Mulder said. “It’s a great logo. But the feedback we’ve gotten is that it gives off a cowboy image.”

Instead of portraying Oklahoma City as a cowboy town, consultants looked to the connection between Will Rogers and aviation. Mulder said the new logo features a stylized “K” with a curve inspired by the swoops on Rogers’ and aviator Wiley Post’s plane.

The new branding will also update the colors to match the palette used in Matt Goad’s terrazzo murals in the east terminal expansion area, as well as the stone, wood and tile used in the decor of the rebuilt airport terminal. Branding will also feature the state bird, the Scissortail Flycatcher.

Mulder said the new name and logo, pending city council approval, will be introduced simultaneously with the airport’s website update.

Barbara Peck and Matt Hinkle, council members who serve on the airport’s board, said the change was ambiguous when it came to eliminating the word “world.” Mulder said the change reflects the preference for the word “international” at other airports.

“I’m sad to see the ‘world’ go, but if it brings international travel here, it’s a win,” Hinkle said. “I come from a graphic design background, so I think it’s very bold and readable.”

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Wants to Rename and Rebrand Will Rogers World Airport