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Airport Burns name change petition attracts worldwide support

29 January
  • A petition to change the name of Prestwick Airport to
  • The name change has been mooted after the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns in 2009
An online petition to change the name of Prestwick Airport to Robert Burns International Airport has been attracting support from all over the world - with nearly 350 signatories having already added their names to the campaign.

The petition says: "The 250th anniversary of Robert Burns' birth seemed the perfect time to change the name of "Prestwick Glasgow International Airport" in Scotland to "The Robert Burns International Airport".

"The airport's position should be known internationally, as it is situated near Robert Burns' birth place, in what is known as Burns Country; in the south west of Scotland."

Supporters from all over the world have been adding their names to the petition - and you can join the campaign here too.

It's already a big year for Prestwick Airport, with the opening of the new air traffic control centre, and the upcoming anniversary of the only visit of Elvis Presley to the UK on Wednesday 3rd March.

Add a comment

30 January | 9:56:46

Grant Gilhespie says

First of all I would like to say that I am a great fan of Burns and have always been, encouraged greatly by my father from a very early age, but I think that the name change is not a very good idea. I have travelled the world for most of my life and have stayed in a lot of other countries. The sad truth is, despite our national fondness for the Bard, and his obvious talent and humanity, most of the world have never even heard of him and have no idea who or what he was. If we rename the airport it will never be picked up in any search with Glasgow in it, and we will therefore lose out on incoming traffic and trade. This is another idea which ranks right up there, along with "pure dead brilliant" in leading our little gem of an airport down a blind alley. We need someone who can look outwards rather than inwards to expand our market in this inceasingly tough world. I think that a score of only 350 names on a worldwide petition shows what a damp squib of an idea this name change is. We need to send the people who thought this up "homewards to think again"

30 January | 9:32:04

Geoff Crolley says

Promote Burns Corridor so that the world knows where:

The Robert Burns International Airport, Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Robert Burns Cottage, Robert Burns Mausoleum, Robert Burns Howffs, Robert Burns Farms, Robert Burns Monument etc are.

And be proud of the Corridor which gave us more innovators than any other part of the world see:

target="blank">http://www.thelocalchannel.co.uk/community/forums/t/222.aspx

I don't think it's wrong to be proud of and promote your district instead of sitting under a neighbour's notoriety.

Signed: The people who thought etc

1 February | 12:55:02

Geoff Crolley says

If tourism is the second biggest industry in Scotland, surely the Burns Corridor needs to get busy promoting ALL of ITS assets, this includes ITS airport?

2 February | 11:56:21

Alex Christie says

'Homewards to think again'4 , reflect on these four words. As I see things as 'A Glass Quarter Full'.4 I must comment in this way. 10 signatures for Homecoming/Come Back to Ayrshire 2009. 340 signatures in January 2010 alone. Multiply by 12 Grant and even you must admit we are looking outward.I stiil believe the names currently missing from the petition will arrive soon. Have Faith and Spirit.4 The idea is sound.4 The Star Shines Brightly.4 5 quarters.

3 February | 2:14:43

Bruce Philip says

Yes Grant, you are right there are only 350 or so names on the petition, but that probably has more to do with its promotion of the petition itself as opposed to lack of interest in the idea.

Some of us, including Geoff and myself, have used various forums as well as Facebook and Twitter to promote the idea. However there is only so much we can do as individuals, but hopefully as more people hear about it they in turn will mention it to friends, etc... and judging by the fact that 350+ people have actually signed it in just under 2 months from as far afield as America, Canada and Australia that is what appears to be happening!

As for people NOT knowing about Burns, we don't expect the whole world to have heard of him; but most of them won't even know much about Scotland let alone where Glasgow is (just like the person that included the name of the city in the name of the airport at Prestwick doesn't appear to)!

Taking Glasgow out of the name and adding Robert Burns instead shouldn't affect search results on the internet that much, not if the changes to the airport website and how it is promoted elsewhere on the internet is done properly... it will always be in Prestwick (and I for one think that part of the name should remain) and it will always be within driving distance or have a rail connection to Glasgow and not actually be in Glasgow as some people currently think!

So hats off to Geoff for coming up with (or at least taking on) the idea and getting the petition started... good luck to you mate!

5 February | 1:57:35

Alex Christie says

Does anyone know what Peter Howson thinks about the current airport tag ? Remember the 'Rage against the Machine' phenomena at Christmas.The couple who caused that to happen might find our cause interesting.I wonder if Mr.Twitter, Stephen Fry would like to know about the graffiti spoiling our successful Ayrshire airport ? Any signatures from the Council,Federation or Chronicle ?

6 February | 2:35:08

Geoff Crolley says

I've opened a page on facebook for this because this page will soon be lost.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rename-Glasgow-Prestwick-Airport-to-ROBERT-BURNS-INTERNATIONAL/228879887216#!/group.php?gid=293383776796
Please tell anyone who you may think is interested in the renaming to have a look.

12 March | 4:02:55

Alex Christie says

12 ~ 03 ~ 10 and only 3 to go for landmark figure of 400. I feel confident this number is meaningful for our petition. Namechange. Robert Burns International Federation. You have been patient for an age, For the right decision to be given. Ayrshire Ayrport, Ayrshire Ayrpoet.

16 March | 11:27:59

Geoff Crolley says

407 signatures so far. Please take a look at some of the views added by signers: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/robert-burns-international-airport/signatures.html This could have a positive affect on tourism in the south west.

8 May | 4:02:56

Geoff Crolley says

3,604 people like the Facebook site so far with 1200 signatures on the GoPetition.

We've only just begun.

17 November | 1:43:06

Geoff Crolley says

THE ROBERT BURNS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, PRESTWICK. 5,388 people like this idea so far, according to the Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rename-Glasgow-Prestwick-Airport-to-ROBERT-BURNS-INTERNATIONAL/228879887216  

Almost a year since this campaign was started.  John Goldie, Secretary Hawick Burns Club, signed the Gopetition on behalf of 600 members of the club. 1401st signer. Thank you all. It made me wonder how many names would we have on the petition if each member of clubs behind the campaign had signed personally?

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/robert-burns-international-airport.html

7 December | 11:04:04

Geoff Crolley says

The new chairman of VisitScotland would like to hear your views on the Prestwick Airport Facebook campaign and other issues you may have: http://www.visitscotland.org/main/forum.aspx?g=posts&t=27

27 December | 2:19:25

Geoff Crolley says

Director Vadim Jean said "Not enough people in the world know about Burns and this is a chance to introduce people to him." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/2010/12/26/scots-movie-star-gerard-butler-meets-director-over-robert-burns-film-86908-22807953/

Another opportunity to put Ayrshire on the map.

28 January | 3:31:30

Geoff Crolley says

Calls to rename Prestwick Airport to Robert Burns Airport have come to the forefront once more.

During Brian Taylor's Big Debate in Ayr on Friday 21st January 2011, Chic Brodie, the SNP candidate for Ayr, raised the issue to a round of applause. He believes that now is time for the proposal to be supported saying: "I have written to the owners Infratil and to Keith Brown, the Sottish Government's Transport Minister outlining the marketing, the community and the business reasons for doing so. I believe that changing the name to Robert Burns Airport will have a very significant effect on job creation in Ayrshire."

31 January | 10:03:38

Geoff Crolley says

Robert Burns International Airport, Prestwick: 5,677 "People Like This" on Facebook so far. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rename-Glasgow-Prestwick-Airport-to-ROBERT-BURNS-INTERNATIONAL/228879887216

25 February | 12:02:49

Geoff Crolley says

The Robert Burns International Airport, Prestwick campaign on Facebook has 5,745 "likers" so far and it is said that the subject will be raised (again) in the Scottish Parliament.

Would it make any difference to Ayrshire & Arran if "Robert Burns International" was to replace "GLASGOW"?

31 March | 11:05:31

Geoff Crolley says

The Robert Burns International Airport, Prestwick sounds like a great idea but then again I've been asking for the name change for a year or more now so I'm biased.

What's your opinion?

11 July | 2:17:00

Geoff Crolley says

Motion S4M-00109 - Kenneth Gibson: Rename Glasgow Prestwick Robert Burns International Airport.
That the Parliament supports the campaign to rename Glasgow Prestwick International Airport http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rename-Glasgow-Prestwick-Airport-to-ROBERT-BURNS-INTERNATIONAL/228879887216?ref=mf 6,090 'Likers' so far.

[That the Parliament supports the campaign to rename Glasgow Prestwick International Airport, as Robert Burns International Airport in honour and memory of Scotland’s national bard; believes that the life and works of Robert Burns play a significant role in attracting tourists to Scotland and, as such, believes that the international airport in Burns’ homeland of Ayrshire should be renamed to reflect this; notes that an online campaign to rename the airport has attracted 6,000 supporters, highlighting significant support for the proposal; believes that Scotland should be proud of its national icons, and calls on the owners and shareholders of the airport to rename Glasgow Prestwick in order to help promote Scotland's rich culture and heritage around the world and help attract more visitors to Scotland via their airport.]

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson MSP for Cunninghame North; Paul Wheelhouse, MSP for South of Scotland; Richard Lyle, MSP for Central Scotland; Mike MacKenzie, MSP for the Highlands and Islands; Stewart Maxwell, MSP for West Scotland; Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow Anniesland; Maureen Watt, MSP for the North East of Scotland; Christina McKelvie, for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse; John Finnie MSP for Highlands and Islands; Fiona McLeod, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden; Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh; Kevin Stewart MSP for Aberdeen Central; James Dornan, MSP for Glasgow Cathcart; Joan McAlpine, MSP for South of Scotland; John Wilson MSP for Central Scotland Region; Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Maryhill & Springburn; Roderick Campbell, MSP for North East Fife; Gil Paterson, MSP Clydebank and Milngavie; Elaine Murray, MSP Dumfriesshire; Chic Brodie, MSP for South of Scotland; John Scott, MSP for Ayr; William Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock; Aileen McLeod, MSP for South of Scotland; Stuart McMillan, MSP for West of Scotland.

　

　

　

 

 

 

 

 

26 July | 1:05:04

Geoff Crolley says

Prestwick Airport's Steven Fitzgerald, the Infratil man who led Wellington (NZ) International Airport's controversial Wellywood sign campaign, is stepping down as airport chief executive and moving to Sydney.

Wellington 25/07/2011 http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5336530/Wellington-Airport-boss-resigns

Prestwick February 2005 http://business.scotsman.com/scotlandsairports/Prestwicks-new-image-doctor-is.2604475.jp

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