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Louisville airport to honor Muhammad Ali with name change

The three-letter airport location identifier will remain SDF and will not change.

LOUISVILLE (WHAS11) – The Louisville Regional Airport Authority Board voted to rename the city’s airport to the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Jan. 16.

The three-letter airport location identifier will remain SDF and will not change.

Mayor Greg Fischer said he is pleased and proud of the decision.

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“Muhammad Ali belonged to the world, but he only had one hometown, and fortunately, that is our great city of Louisville…” Fischer said. “ It is important that we, as a city, further champion The Champ’s legacy, and the airport renaming is a wonderful next step.”

The boxing legend died in 2016.

Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-03) issued the statement:

"There are a lot of worthy people who could represent our city, but I am thrilled that the Airport Authority chose the greatest. Renaming our airport for Ali isn't only fitting because he seemed to fly when he was in the ring, but because even as he became perhaps the quintessential citizen of the world, Muhammad Ali remained a proud Louisvillian. For millions of people around the globe, our airport is their first impression of Louisville, and I can think of no better way to introduce travelers to our community than Muhammad Ali and the values he embodied and fought for his entire life.”

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