Petition To Rename Key West Airport

There is a petition floating around to rename Key West International Airport (KEYW) in honor of Jimmy Buffett. [Adobe Stock/Markus Mainka]

Calling all Parrot Heads: There is a petition floating around to rename Key West International Airport (KEYW) in honor of Jimmy Buffett. Buffett, a well-known musician, aviator, author, and activist, died on the evening of September 1, 2023, surrounded by family, friends, music, and dogs. He was 76.

READ MORE: Musician, Pilot Jimmy Buffett Remembered

Buffett began his music career in Nashville but eventually migrated to the Florida Keys. The island lifestyle fueled his music, and symbiotically, the money from the music paid for his flying lessons. He owned and flew several aircraft, including Falcons for touring and amphibious aircraft for hopping around the Keys. His most recognizable aircraft was a Grumman Albatross, the Hemisphere Dancer, which was a much-anticipated visitor to airshows such as Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo and EAA AirVenture.

Buffett's music was as much a part of aviation events as sharing stories of his first solo.

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The petition to rename Key West Airport in honor of Buffett surfaced on September 4 and, in a single day, gained close to 4,000 signatures.

Buffett would not be the only celebrity to lend his name to an airport. There is John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California (KSNA), and Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, California (KBUR).

Plane & Pilot reached out to the airport sponsor, but requests for information were not answered by the close of business Wednesday.

airports Buffett Florida GA general aviation Grumman Albatross Jimmy Buffett Key West KEYW parrot heads

Amy WilderAuthor

Amy Wilder fell in love with airplanes at age 8 when her brother-in-law took her up in a Cessna 172. Pretty soon, Amy’s bedroom walls were covered with images of vintage airplanes and she was convinced she’d be a bush pilot in Alaska one day. She became a journalist instead, which is also somewhat impractical—but with fewer bears. Now she’s preparing to be a lifelong student of the art of flying.