With an eye toward expanding awareness of the airport’s proximity to the Willamette Valley, a popular tourist destination, the Salem City Council voted to change the airport’s name to the Salem – Willamette Valley Airport.
In addition to being Oregon’s Capitol, Salem is centrally located within the Willamette Valley and serves as a transportation hub for commercial, military, emergency response and general aviation services. Public awareness of its regional role will help market the airport and its commercial air passenger service more broadly for those wanting to travel to the Pacific Northwest.
In recognition of the airport’s history, the airfield portion of the airport will retain the honorary name of McNary Field. The International Air Transport Association’s three-letter identifier for the Salem Municipal Airport will remain SLE
