New Orleans Airport Renamed

On Wednesday, Morial signed into law an ordinance renaming the airport in honor of the city's most famous native son. Though the name change is legally in effect, changes in signs at the airport likely won't come until fall.

City officials said a ceremony to unveil a new design and logo will be held at the airport Aug. 2, two days before the 100th anniversary of the famous trumpeter's birth. Changes to other things, such as airport stationery, likely will take place over the next few months.

Last week, the New Orleans City Council unanimously approved the name change, which had been sought by jazz buffs for many years.

Located in suburban Kenner but owned by New Orleans, the airport opened in the mid-1940s as Moisant Field, after French-Canadian aviator John B. Moisant, who died in 1910 when his plane from City Park caught a gust of wind and crashed.

It became New Orleans International Airport in 1962.