Jimmy Buffett's Airport: Is It A Paradise Landing?

Following the death of singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, there have been calls to rename Key West International Airport in Florida after the musician. An online petition to change the name to Jimmy Buffett International Airport has gathered tens of thousands of signatures. The campaign has been supported by local news outlets, who argue that renaming the airport after the state's balladeer-in-chief is a fitting tribute to the man who helped put the Florida Keys on the map.

Jimmy Buffett International Airport

While there is no airport currently named after Jimmy Buffett, there have been calls to rename Key West International Airport in honour of the singer-songwriter. An online petition to rename the airport to Jimmy Buffett International Airport was started by Brad Russell and had garnered 25,693 signatures at the time of writing.

Jimmy Buffett, who passed away on September 1, 2023, was famous for his tropical-themed songs such as "Margaritaville" and "Cheeseburger in Paradise". He was closely associated with the Florida Keys, and the island lifestyle that he embodied in his music was inspired by his time in Key West, where he lived from 1971. His 1974 album "A1A" was named for the Florida coastal highway, and his enterprise emulated the coastal tropical vibes of Florida's southernmost point.

Buffett was also an avid pilot and plane enthusiast. He owned a fleet of planes, including a Pilatus PC-12, a Boeing E-75 Stearman biplane, and three different Dassault Falcon business jets. He kept his planes at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) in West Palm Beach, Florida, and had a departure procedure and waypoints named in his honour by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2009.

Given Buffett's strong ties to Key West and his love of aviation, renaming the Key West International Airport to Jimmy Buffett International Airport would be a fitting tribute to the musician who helped put the Florida Keys on the map.

Key West residents push to rename the airport

Following the death of legendary singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett on September 1, 2023, a petition was started by Brad Russell to rename the Key West International Airport to Jimmy Buffett International Airport. As of September 25, the petition had garnered about 21,200 to 25,693 signatures.

Buffett was a singer-songwriter famous for tropical-themed songs such as "Margaritaville" and "Cheeseburger in Paradise." He was also an accomplished pilot. The singer helped put the Florida Keys in the public imagination, and some say an airport name change is a fitting tribute.

One Key West resident, Paul Menta, who has lived in the city for 35 years, coordinated a parade on September 3 to honor Buffett. Menta also took matters into his own hands by placing hand-cut vinyl letters onto the existing airport sign, titling it "Key West-Jimmy Buffett International Airport." The photo of the altered sign went viral.

While Key West Mayor Craig Cates acknowledged the petition's traction and his personal connection with Buffett, he stated that a lot needs to be done before the name can be changed, including respecting the family's mourning process and working with the Federal Aviation Administration.

Petition to rename Key West International Airport

Following the death of Jimmy Buffett on September 1, 2023, a petition was started by Brad Russell to rename Key West International Airport to honour the singer-songwriter's legacy. As a resident of Key West and a fan of Buffett, Russell felt that the airport should bear the name of someone so closely associated with the area. The petition, addressed to Monroe County, which owns the airport, has since garnered over 25,000 signatures.

Buffett, famous for his tropical-themed songs such as "Margaritaville" and "Cheeseburger in Paradise", was a pilot himself and owned several aircraft, including a Pilatus PC-12, a Boeing E-75 Stearman biplane, and three Dassault Falcon business jets. He kept his planes at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) in West Palm Beach, Florida, and even had a departure procedure and waypoints named after him by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2009.

The idea to rename the airport has gained support from various media outlets, including the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board and the Orlando Sentinel, who agree that it is a fitting tribute to the musician who put the Florida Keys on the map. They argue that renaming the airport could boost tourism, with fans of Buffett making it a rite of passage to fly into Jimmy Buffett International Airport.

While some Key West residents are pushing for the name change, others, like County Mayor Craig Cates, recognise that there are many important people in the area and that a decision should not be made hastily. However, most agree that Buffett will always be remembered fondly in Key West, regardless of whether the airport is renamed.

Renaming airports after individuals is not unprecedented, with Washington, New York City, and John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, all bearing the names of notable figures. The petitioners hope that Monroe County will consider their request and believe that the potential name change is a suitable way to honour Buffett's impact on the Florida Keys.

Pilots honour Buffett at West Palm Beach and Key West airports

James "Jimmy" William Buffett, the original Parrothead, first moved to Palm Beach, Florida, in 1993. He had a significant presence in the Sunshine State and was renowned for his music, restaurants, and resorts named after his hit "Margaritaville". In 2011, he purchased a home in Palm Beach, which he sold in 2020. Sadly, Buffett passed away on September 1, 2023, at the age of 76.

To honour his memory, pilots arriving at Palm Beach International Airport now have a special way to pay tribute to him. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published an updated arrival procedure called JESTR ONE, named after Buffett, who frequently likened his work to that of a court jester. Additionally, the FAA updated the departure procedure from Key West International Airport to BUFTT ONE as a nod to the man behind "Margaritaville".

Buffett, a pilot himself, kept his planes at PBIA. He owned several properties in Palm Beach County, including three homes on Palm Beach's Root Trail. One of his homes was sold to a Canadian buyer for $6.11 million.

Florida has further honoured Buffett by declaring August 30 as Jimmy Buffett Day, renaming State Road A1A as the Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway, and approving a new license plate with "Florida" at the top and "Margaritaville" at the bottom. The fees from the sale of this license plate will go towards the SFC Charitable Foundation Inc., also known as Singing for Change, founded by Buffett in 1995.

While Buffett does not have an airport named after him yet, there is a petition to rename the Key West International Airport to Jimmy Buffett International Airport. This petition, started by Brad Russell, has gained significant support, with over 20,000 signatures. Many believe that renaming the airport is a fitting tribute to the musician who put Key West and the Florida Keys in the public imagination.

Buffett's aviation ties and fleet of planes

James "Jimmy" William Buffett was a pilot and an avid lover of flying. He first caught the flying bug from a pilot friend at the University of Southern Mississippi. However, the steep costs of planes, fuel, and instruction kept him from pursuing it. As he turned his "Margaritaville" brand into a success, he was finally able to afford flying lessons and obtain his single-engine land and sea ratings before turning 40.

Buffett owned a fleet of planes that he stored at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) in West Palm Beach, Florida. In 2009, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) honoured Buffett by naming a departure procedure and waypoints in PBI's airspace after him: BUFIT ONE, with waypoints including "FINNS", "PYRUT", and "JIMEY". In 2024, the FAA updated this procedure, renaming it BUFTT ONE.

Buffett's preference in planes leaned towards amphibious aircraft, as they allowed him to merge his passion for flying with his love for the ocean. His first amphibious plane was the Lake Renegade, which he used to obtain his private pilot's license. He also owned a Grumman G-21 Goose, a Grumman G-44 Widgeon, a Pilatus PC-12, a Boeing E-75 Stearman biplane, and three Dassault Falcon business jets. The Stearman was featured in the music video for his 2004 single "Trip Around the Sun" with Martina McBride. He also flew the Hemisphere Dancer, a former U.S. Navy flying boat turned winged motorhome, to concert locations and remote destinations for pleasure.

Buffett's love for flying and his fleet of planes were a testament to his unique spirit and adventurous lifestyle, allowing him to chase sunsets and explore the world from the cockpit of his aircraft.

Frequently asked questions