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When an airport gets a new name, it’s usually easy to spot, especially as the highway signs and outside signage change.

Also, inside the airport, the terminal signs are updated. The rebranding applies to the airport’s website, and sometimes (although rarely) even the hub’s official IATA airport code.

But the new President Donald J. Trump International Airport isn’t quite there yet.

Less than two weeks after Palm Beach International Airport officially became President Donald J. Trump International Airport, the rebrand has hit a snag. The new name is visible in some places but not others, and it’s not clear where the money to finish the job will come from.

For travelers, the airport itself hasn’t really been affected. Flights are still operating, and the airport’s passenger-facing IATA code is still PBI — at least until August 18, when it will switch to DJT. But the transition has become more complicated than putting up a few new signs.

The Rebranding Is Official, But The Old Airport Name Is Still Hanging Around

Palm Beach International Airport officially changed names on July 9, becoming President Donald J. Trump International Airport. The change, which The Guardian described as “one of Donald Trump’s most grandiose vanity projects,” became official under a Florida law signed earlier this year by Governor Ron DeSantis.

The airport’s website now carries the new name. New highway signs have gone up. AP News photos from the first day showed an exterior sign with the Trump name and an airport monitor using the new branding.

The outlet also reported that the first aircraft to land after the name change was “Trump Force One,” the Boeing 757 owned by the Trump Organization. Eric Trump was among the passengers, a symbolic arrival that was followed a few days later by mega-celebrity Travis Kelce landing on another flight at the newly-named airport.

But the name change isn’t fully visible inside the airport. The Guardian reported that many physical signs and pieces of airport infrastructure still refer to the old Palm Beach International name. Digital signage reflects the new brand in some places, while ticket counters, baggage areas, and other parts of the terminal still show the airport’s former name.

Airport officials had already warned travelers to expect a mixed look during the transition. In a Facebook post quoted by AP News, the airport said travelers would see “a combination of both our classic look and our new brand elements” across the terminal for several weeks.

It was initially described as a temporary overlap. Now the bigger question is who pays to finish the job.

Florida Funded Half The Signage Cost, And Palm Beach County Does Not Want To Cover The Rest

The rebrand is expected to cost about $5.5 million for new signs, branding, and related updates. Florida’s budget included $2.75 million for the airport name change, or roughly half the estimated cost.

Palm Beach County isn’t volunteering local taxpayers to bear responsibility for the other half.

The Guardian reported that Joseph Abruzzo, the county administrator, said the $2.75 million would cover baseline, necessary sign changes, but the airport would need the other half from the state to complete the more extensive updates.

According to the airport website: “The State of Florida appropriated $2.75 million toward the project. The remaining costs will be funded through the Department of Airports’ operating budget and capital improvement program. No local property tax dollars are used to operate President Donald J. Trump International Airport.”

However, county commissioner Joel Flores, one of three commissioners who voted against the trademark and licensing agreement tied to the rename, told the outlet that he wouldn’t vote to use operational funds for the rebrand.

“This should be solely on the state to be able to fund this,” Flores said. “This is their initiative. This is their imposition, their rule over a local municipality over a local airport, so they should be responsible. We’ve also heard that, federally, they might be sending some dollars down, but I have not seen any bills or budgets that address that. So until I see the money in the bank, I’m not going to count with it.”

That leaves the airport in an awkward spot. The name change is the law, and the new name is already in use. But the full conversion could stall unless more money appears.

Why the funding dispute matters

For passengers, it may sound like a political standoff. But in an airport, signage is more than decor.

Travelers expect airport names, road signs, terminal signs, airline displays, baggage areas, rideshare directions, booking systems, and map apps to match. A partial rebrand creates more chances for confusion, especially during the weeks when the airport code is also in transition.

The airport has tried to limit that confusion with clear instructions. It says passengers should continue using PBI or searching “West Palm Beach” for flight bookings, reservations, check-ins, and baggage tracking until August 18. After that, the IATA code is scheduled to change to DJT.

That means different aspects are changing on different timelines.

Lawsuits And Traveler Backlash Over The Name Change Are Still Ongoing

The money fight isn’t the only complication.

The Guardian reported that two lawsuits have been filed to try to stop the rebranding from moving forward. One was filed by George Poncy, a retired pilot who argued that changing the long-used PBI identifier could create confusion in aviation systems and raise safety concerns. The other comes from trademark attorney Victoria Doyle over jurisdictional authority.

The airport has said the travel experience itself will stay the same throughout the transition. Its March announcement also stressed that airport operations, ownership, and governance by Palm Beach County were unchanged by the new state law.

Still, the rename has generated wider pushback from some travelers and critics.

It has also created strange airline-policy confusion.

United Airlines recently had to clarify its position after an internal memo, reported by Live and Let’s Fly and later covered by several outlets, appeared to tell reservation agents they could offer alternatives such as Fort Lauderdale or Miami to customers who no longer wanted to fly into the renamed airport. United later said the message was “poorly worded” and “inaccurate,” adding that its policy doesn’t allow ticket changes simply because of an airport’s name or three-letter code.

That clarification matters for travelers who may dislike the new name but already have tickets. A political objection to the name change is not, by itself, a covered reason to change itineraries.

Travelers who want to avoid the airport may still be able to change tickets under normal fare rules or same-day policies, but they shouldn’t assume the name change gives them a free reroute.

What Travelers Should Know Before Flying Through The Airport

Until August 18, passengers should continue using PBI or “West Palm Beach” when booking, checking in, tracking bags, or searching airport information. After the code changes, travelers should expect DJT to appear in more places, but older references to PBI may linger during the transition.

This is especially important for travelers using third-party booking sites, airline apps, airport parking platforms, rideshare apps, hotel shuttles, and map searches. A renamed airport can take time to flow through every travel system.

Travelers should also make sure they’re not confusing West Palm Beach with other South Florida airports. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport are both viable alternatives for some trips in the area, but they are not close enough to treat casually. A switch from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale or Miami can mean a longer ground transportation time, added cost, rental-car plans, and cruise or hotel transfers.