As Manassas inches toward its first commercial passenger flights, city leaders are getting ready to argue over something that will be on every ticket, every ad and every airport sign: what to call the place.
Manassas City Council is set to consider a new name for Manassas Regional Airport this week, a change tied directly to the city’s push to carve out a spot in the crowded Washington-area air travel market. The airport commission has already teed up a short list that leans hard into the D.C. brand, and the airport’s private operator is all in on that strategy.
Commission Picks Three ‘Washington’ Options
The Manassas Regional Airport Commission voted in December to submit three possible new names to the City Council: “Washington Manassas Airport,” “Washington Manassas National Airport,” and “Washington Manassas Regional Airport.” The motion passed 7-2, according to the Manassas Regional Airport Commission.
Commissioners framed the trio of options as a way to highlight the field’s role in the greater D.C. market while still signaling its Manassas roots. In a region already juggling multiple commercial airports, they argued that putting “Washington” in the name is less about civic pride and more about survival in airline route maps and booking engines.
Avports Pushes ‘Washington’ While City Lawyer Flags ‘National’
The airport’s operator, Avports, told the council in a letter that “Washington Manassas Airport” would “more accurately position HEF within the competitive airport marketplace,” according to WTOP. In other words, if airlines and passengers are browsing for Washington-area options, Avports wants Manassas to pop up in the mix…