The Natrona County International Airport could be renamed Central Wyoming International Airport.

Or how about Wyoming International Airport? Or maybe Casper International Airport would be more to your liking?

Jon Campbell, chairman of the Natrona County Commission, said he understood Central Wyoming International Airport was the preferred alternative, but he has seen no formal proposal to that effect.

A name change would need the blessing of the county commission, and commissioners would have questions about such matters as associated costs, but the rationale for a change is clear: To increase airport business with an assist from a name that is more recognizable to travelers and other airport users.

Other considerations aside, "I think it makes sense to have Wyoming in the name," Campbell said.

In an e-mail, Tim Stubson, president of the airport board, said the name change is still under discussion.

"There is a consensus that the name needs to be changed in order to allow us to capitalize on our air service recruitment efforts, our business park improvements and our long-range vision for creating more cargo capacity at the airport," he said. "We have not, however, settled on the exact proposal for the name."

In earlier discussions with county commissioners, he said there was considerable resistance to changing the name to Casper International Airport, so Central Wyoming International Airport and Wyoming International Airport are being considered as well.

The problem with the present name - Natrona County International Airport - is that many people don't know where Natrona County is, says Airport Manager Glenn Januska.

The Central Wyoming name, on the other hand, identifies not only the location but the market-area served.

Casper International is even more specific, Januska said, though it assumes people know Casper in located in Wyoming, while Wyoming International suffers from the same problem as Natrona County International: "It says we're in Wyoming, but it doesn't say where."

Januska said there is no deadline for making a decision on a name change, but if a change is coming, it should be accomplished "sooner rather than later so it aids in our overall marketing efforts in other areas of the airport."

If a name change is made, "international" will be retained as part of the new designation.

Januska said while an airport can call itself an international airport without in fact being one, a true international airport is a designated port of entry for cross-border traffic, in this case, primarily from Canada.

Business Editor Tom Mast can be reached at tom.mast@trib.com, or call 307-266-0574.