Memphis International Airport was officially renamed Frederick W. Smith International Airport during a dedication ceremony attended by civic leaders, FedEx executives, and the Smith family. The renaming honors the late founder and longtime CEO of FedEx, Fred Smith, who passed away in June 2025 at age 80 after revolutionizing the global logistics industry. By launching Federal Express in Memphis in 1973, Smith transformed the regional airport into one of the busiest cargo hubs in the world. To mark the occasion, FedEx landed a Boeing 777 featuring a retro Federal Express livery christened Rosie, after Smith's granddaughter. While the airport will phase in updated physical signage, terminal branding, and access road improvements over the coming months, its standard three-letter IATA code, MEM, will remain unchanged to prevent disruptions to passenger ticketing and flight tracking systems.