EDITORIAL L.A.'S UNFRIENDLY SKIES KENNARD OFFERED REGIONAL SOLUTION TO AIR TRAVEL PROBLEMS.

WHAT'S in a name? A lot.

To most people living outside Southern California, the word ``Palmdale'' means nothing, while ``Ontario'' conjures up visions of Canada. Name-recognition is the first obstacle to creating a regional approach to Los Angeles-area airports.

So the Los Angeles Airport Commission is renaming the Palmdale and Ontario airports ``LA/Palmdale'' and ``LA/Ontario.''

Smart move.

``Los Angeles'' is larger than the city or the county proper. Across America, most people understand it to refer to all of Southern California. Hence the ``Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.'' And just as the L.A. brand is good for baseball, it's good for airports, too.

Putting ``L.A.'' in the names of regional airports could make them more desirable destinations for visitors and airlines alike.

For too long, city leaders have been happy to make Los Angeles International Airport the destination for most travelers from Santa Barbara to Orange County, from Lancaster to San Bernardino. The result has been to overwhelm LAX and choke the 405 Freeway.

In recent years, and especially under the leadership of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, there has been more of an effort to pursue a regional airport plan, one that would spread the burden and the traffic -- as well as the tax and tourism revenues -- more evenly.

A key player in that effort has been Lydia Kennard, who has just stepped down as executive director of Los Angeles World Airports. In just 14 months since returning to the job after falling out with then-Mayor James Hahn over LAX expansion, Kennard helped to steer air traffic planning toward a regional solution that makes sense.

Kennard will be missed. But as the re-naming of the Palmdale and Ontario airports shows, regionalizing Southland air travel must continue.