EMA to change name again?!

Found this whist browsing Radio Derby’s site :-

Airport to consider name change

The name was raised by people in a consultation exercise
Managers at Nottingham East Midlands Airport have revealed they are considering a name change.
Nearly three years ago Nottingham was put in to the airport’s title but the change caused controversy.

Business leaders said that the current name does not promote the region nationally and internationally.

Managers said they were considering the change following responses by people to the airport’s master plan proposals. A decision is expected in December.

Issue raised

The airport’s managing director Penny Coates said: “The name change was something that was raised, it’s being considered alongside all the other issues that were raised about the draft master plan.

“It was one of the things that was raised as an issue. We will respond to all of them.

The name change hasn’t really had a big impact at European airports – it is still referred to as East Midlands Airport

Lee Stokes, Business Confidential

“We have to look at the balance as to what is the right thing to do.”

Michael Copestake, of Marketing Derby, said: “It hasn’t helped the East Midlands to develop itself as a region and that has been a problem.

“If we are going to promote the East Midlands as an area to do business in, if we’ve got the main airport that doesn’t carry that logo it doesn’t achieve that objective.”

Lee Stokes, editor of Business Confidential magazine, said: “The airport was pressured, by what we hear, at the time by one of their main customers to change the name.

“But the name change hasn’t really had a big impact at European airports – it is still referred to as East Midlands Airport on the electronic notice boards.”

Mrs Coates said the name was changed originally because people travelling into the region did not know where East Midlands was but they did know where Nottingham was.

She said the airport has seen a significant increase in inbound passengers as a result of the change.

Martin Traynor of Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce said: “The fact that we have an airport that is actually located in Leicestershire called Nottingham East Midlands Airport is a bit bizarre

And now the Derby Evening Telegraph

AIRPORT MAY LOSE RIVAL CITY FROM TITLE
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09:30 – 19 October 2006
Nottingham could be removed from the title of East Midlands Airport.

Penny Coates, managing director, said a name change was being considered as part of a draft master plan.

The plan outlines growth of the airport for the next 30 years, and is due to be published in December.

According to the airport, members of the public were invited to comment on it and even though the name change was not outlined as an issue, it was raised by those who responded.

Speaking on BBC East Midlands Today, Mrs Coates said: “The name change was something that was raised. It is being considered alongside all the other issues that were raised about the draft master plan.

“We will respond to all of them.

“We have to look at the balance as to what is the right thing to do.”

She did not say whether the airport might revert to its original name or if a new title may be chosen.

Nottingham was officially added to the airport’s name in January 2004 and the decision caused outrage in Derbyshire.

Airport bosses argued that the decision was made after research showed that nobody outside the region knew where the airport was.

Dave Roberts, deputy leader of Derby City Council, welcomed the news that the name may be changed.

He said: “I was perfectly happy with the name of East Midlands Airport and as three cities we worked well together.

“It would be magnanimous of the airport to realise that it was a mistake changing it in the first place.”

Conservative group leader Philip Hickson, deputy leader of the city council at the time the name change was made, said it would be common sense to revert to the airport’s old name.

“We always fought against the name being changed, as everyone was comfortable with it being called East Midlands Airport,” he said.

John Manners (66), of Cavendish Court, Shardlow, is an aviation enthusiast and is planning to write to the airport in support of another name change.

He said: “It has hindered the region of the East Midlands, not helped it. Nottingham doesn’t have a great reputation, especially with violent crime and guns, so I’m not surprised people want Nottingham dropped.”

Jean Cudworth (79), of Belmont Drive, Borrowash, said she hoped the name was changed.

“To change it back would be a very sensible thing to do.”

David Murphy (52), of Maize Close, Littleover, campaigned to stop the Nottingham addition.

He said: “I think it’s about time that they dropped the prefix.”

Linda Rowley (43), of Springwood Drive, Oakwood, said she had never used the Nottingham prefix when talking about the airport.

“I don’t think any of my friends have either. It really should be changed back.”

Was a silly idea really, due to the fact it is in a Derby Post Code and Telephone code area, and it is in Leicestershire! Oh and the fact that there is just a tad of a rivalry between Derby, Leicester and Nottingham 😀