Little Rock airport's name has been changed to honor Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton. Hillary Clinton said at the dedication ceremony, "More than 40 years ago, the first time I came to Arkansas, I flew into this airport."
The airport is now named Bill and Hillary Clinton International Airport.
The Associated Press reported that the airport has grown over the years to serving about 2.2. million passengers every year and a recent renovation project cost $67 million to improve the baggage screening and lobby areas.
"The new ticketing lobby allows for large, open spaces that provide visitors with more room to explore the airport. The new state-of-the-art baggage system is now "behind the scenes" out of passenger areas and features high-tech screening capabilities," reported inarkansas.com.
The Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission's chair, Kay Kelley Arnold, said to The AP, "The Clintons have given so much to our city, our state, our nation and our world, it's only fitting that this airport be named in their honor, It's the only airport named after a president and a first lady and a secretary of state. ... And we're just getting started."
Last year the commission voted to rename the airport after the Clintons.
"I always think when a person gets out of the White House, they shouldn't get any award or have anything named for them because the job itself is the greatest honor in the world," Bill Clinton said Friday, reported the AP. "But I confess to be profoundly grateful for this ..."
Hillary Clinton agreed her husband's sentiment. "This is a very profoundly deep honor for me: to be here for the naming of this airport that has played such a role in my own life," she said according to the AP.
Bill Clinton added that the airport has given them a way to get back to their home state.
"Thanks to this airport, we were always able to find our way back home," he said.
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