Renaming of airports not uncommon

I disagree with Mr Ho Kong Loon on the problems of renaming Changi Airport after former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) ("Renaming places not best way to honour legacy"; last Saturday).

I recently retired from the air transportation and logistics industry.

I have seen many airports renamed: New York's Idlewild Airport became John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport; Manila International Airport became Ninoy Aquino International Airport; and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport became Chiang Kai-shek International Airport before reverting to its original name, for example.

Renaming Changi Airport as LKY Airport is a befitting honour for our founding father; the airport code could also be changed to LKY, instead of the current SIN.

I remember Mr Lee once said Singapore Airlines could fail but Changi must stand if Singapore is to be connected to the world - Changi Airport is one of the many institutions he approved of, and is our well-known link to the world outside.

It should be renamed as soon as possible.

This article was first published on March 31, 2015.
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