29/1/2010Airport Burns name change petition attracts worldwide support

A petition to change the name of Prestwick Airport to

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.

The name change has been mooted after the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns in 2009

 
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"
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

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?
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.
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!
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 ?
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.

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