Memphis International Airport has a new name. On Tuesday, city and state leaders joined the Smith family to officially rename it the Frederick W. Smith International Airport, honoring the FedEx founder who died in June 2025 at age 80. The airport keeps its familiar three letter code, MEM.
The idea came from Fred Smith’s son, Richard W. Smith, now FedEx’s Chief Operating Officer International, who said the family approached Fred about it while he was still alive and he was hesitant, until he agreed the airport was the one honor that fit. He called his father “the guy who put the international in Memphis International Airport.” FedEx CEO Raj Subramaniam added that Smith’s impact on Memphis, aviation, and global commerce is impossible to overstate.
Along with the new name, airport leaders unveiled plans for a monument sign at the main entrance, calling it a crown jewel for arriving travelers. Memphis Mayor Paul Young also announced upgrades coming to Plough Boulevard, the road leading into the airport that carries nearly 35,000 vehicles a day.
