Controversy seems to have surrounded the name of the new Bay County airport ever since airport authorities selected it last week.
Many local community leaders don't like the name, Northwest Florida Panama City International, and are asking board members to reconsider.
There's a new development tonight that could lead to a future legal battle.
The on-going battle between the Northwest Florida Regional Airport in Okaloosa County and Bay County’s soon-to-be-opening new airport took another bizarre turn today.
On October 7th, Bay county airport authority board members selected a new name for the airport, calling it Northwest Florida -Panama City International Airport.
But many community leaders complained, saying Panama City shouldn't be included in the name.
They say they want something different and more inclusive.
This Monday, the Bay county Tourist Development Council board member Yonnie Patronis suggested Northwest Florida International, dropping Panama City from the name.
The full T-D-C approved and is sending the suggestion to the airport authority.
But there are a few problems.
First, the two airports would have names that are almost identical.
Karen James, a Northwest Regional Airport employee explains her frustrations.
“I think having Northwest Florida in both titles, in both airports, and with the airports being so close, is terribly confusing especially to people who aren’t familiar with the area.
Tony Taylor works for the Hudson News Group inside the Northwest Regional Airport and also thinks the potential name change will be confusing.
“It's a form of flattery that they're copying us, but it’s going to be confusing to travelers.
But that isn't the only problem.
It seems Okaloosa county commissioners have applied for a patent, or copyright on the name "Northwest Florida International."
During a Destin Chamber of Commerce gathering Thursday night, airport Director Greg Donovan said Northwest Florida Regional wants to become an international airport in the future.
"Northwest Florida made a very deliberate process of branding over a year ago that included a possibility if we were to achieve our goals of bringing in a Canadian airline."
And there's some question as to whether the airport's current arrangements with Eglin Air Force Base would even allow the international designation.
Yonnie Patronis was unaware of Okaloosa's copyright application.
He says he suggested the change in the name of inclusion.
"We want the Walton counties of the world and other community counties to embrace this project to make everyone feel its theirs as well as ours."
Donovan doesn't seem to like that idea
"We are going to defend our branding. I'm not going to speculate about what decisions are being made over in Panama City."
The name game may be a moot point.
Bay county airport authorities have made no indication they plan to change from their original pick "Northwest Florida Panama City International."
The Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners were unavailable for comment.