Gary Mayor Rudy Clay opposes renaming the Gary/Chicago International Airport as recommended in a just-released airport business plan, saying the current name signifies the important partnership between the two cities.
"I don't understand why changing the name would do anything, anyway," Clay said. "It's the action you put behind the airport that will make it fly."
As early as this summer, the plan recommends starting a rebranding campaign, including a new name for the airport to reflect its "regional positioning." It doesn't give any suggestions but states an outside consultant could be hired to help with the process.
Other regional leaders were cautious about dropping the Gary name from the airport but said it may be time for a change to overcome any negative perceptions of the city and its airport.
Lake County Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Speros Batistatos said the renaming of the "Gary Air Show" to "Gary's South Shore Air Show" three years ago could serve as a starting point for any renaming bid.
"We never took Gary out of it, and I'm not sure you have to delete that," Batistatos said.
Officials said getting the runway extended and attracting air service to provide the airport with financial stability should be the first priority. But they agreed with the plan's recommendation a more concerted marketing campaign is needed.
Board member Ross Amundson, an appointee of Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, said airlines that have flown at the airport have had respectable support from Northwest Indiana residents, so he is not sure how much negative perceptions of Gary have played into its lack of success in keeping them.
"If it is a major deterrent to the airport going forward, then maybe it has to be looked at," Amundson said.
Northwest Indiana Forum interim CEO Mark Maassel said he would like to see the history of the airport acknowledged in any rebranding effort, but that it probably should not be named for any limited geographic area if it's a truly regional airport.
"We want to credit our forebears with what has been done, but we also have to be mindful of moving forward," he said.
