Airport name change fails to take off with readers
A campaign to rename Newcastle Airport to “best reflect the area it serves” have been criticised by readers and branded “ridiculous”.
At a meeting this week, Sunderland City councillors approved a move to “consider suitableoptions”forrenaming theairport,followingamotion tabled by the city’s Lib Dems.
Their original proposal was for the name ‘Newcastle SunderlandInternationalAirport’tobeused,fortheairport to reflect both cities the airport serves in Tyne and Wear and “put Sunderland on the map”.
Instead, the ruling Labour group called for an amendmenturgingairportdirectors to “consider suitable options” around renaming the airport to “best reflect the area it serves.”
They also asked for reference to the name ‘Newcastle SunderlandInternationalAirport’ to be deleted.
The agreed motion read: "Thiscouncilresolvestowrite to Newcastle International Airport to urge its directors to consider suitable options for renaming the airport that will best reflect the area it serves.”
Readers on our social media pages largely criticised the plans, calling it “absolutely pointless” and adding that therewas“noneed”formoney to be spent on a rebrand.
Others said it would “alwaysbeNewcastleAirport”regardless of any name change.
Here is how you reacted on our social media pages:
SueSmith:“Whycan'tpeople of Sunderland raise their
expectationsabit.Areweconditioned into playing second fiddle to Newcastle?
“Thisisimportant.Theairport serves TWO cities. Sunderland is one of them."
Helen Ruth Ruff: “It will always be Newcastle airport regardless of what they change it to.”
IanScott:“BeingfromSunderland myself I don't see the point as we would always refer to it as Newcastle Airport anyway.”
Evelyn Patterson: “Should call it Sir Bobby Robson International
Airport.”
Christopher Jones: “What next, Manchester and Stockport Airport? Birmingham and Coventry Airport? It’s a stupid idea.”
Gem Isabella: “(Did) anyone actually call Teesside Airport, Durham Tees Valley Airport? Or call Liverpool Airport,theJohnLennonAirport? Absolutely pointless.”
RichardDrew:“Howabout Morpeth, Alnwick, Blyth, North Shields, South Shields, Gateshead,NewcastleAirport ... ridiculous!”