Renaming of airports 'will avoid confusion'

The decision to rename two Los Angeles airports will help to avoid confusion and will attract many more visitors to the hubs, according to officials.

In December, the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners approved plans to change the names of Ontario International Airport (ONT) and Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) to LA/Ontario International Airport and LA/Palmdale Regional Airport respectively.

For ONT in particular, the absence of LA in its name has caused great confusion in the past, with visitors unfamiliar with the City of Angels confusing it with Canada's Ontario.

Paul Haney, Deputy Executive Director of Airports and Security for the city's airport agency, told The Los Angeles Times that the mistake is a common one.

"When talking to airlines, I always ask the question, 'Which would you prefer to serve, Ontario International Airport or LA/Ontario International Airport?'.

"They never hesitate. They always say LA/Ontario International Airport," he said.

It is hoped that the renaming will help to reduce the burden on Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which is still seen by many travelers as their only option when visiting this part of the world.

Experts have warned, however, that there are potential hazards to look out for when embarking on a renaming policy of this nature.

Anthony Shore, Creative Director of Naming and Writing at Landor Associates, told the newspaper that officials will have to educate visitors in relation to the exact locations of the various airports.

"All three airports sharing LA in their name introduces the possibility that people will fly into the wrong airport," he said, adding that some may believe they are close to downtown LA when they in fact face a fairly lengthy drive before arriving at their desired destination.

Changes are also afoot at LAX, where visitors can look forward to new lounges and revamped terminals in the months ahead.

© Adfero Ltd