Lufthansa From Christmas Island, joined May 1999, 3074 posts, RR: 10 Posted (9 years 1 month 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 2951 times:
Hi everbody
I want to start alittle bit of a grass routes movement to rename London's two major airports. There's already one for heathrow... That being Princess Dianna..... for London heathrow.... no complaints there.
But, Here's the controvertial one. Gatwick. I want Gatwick renamed "Margret Thatcher Intercontinental".
I think the name suits it perfectly. Firstly, there is a very strong American presence at this airport. Thatcher, had a very strong relationship with the Americans.
Secondaly, it was Virgin Atlantic's birthplace, and Thatcher and branson have quite a good relationship.
Third. The very strong LCC presense at this airport fits in with the nature of Thatcher. She was great believer in free enterprise, and the big easyjet operation alone there really fits in with that. If the name "thatcher Intercontinental" doesn't appeal, How about "thatcher europort?"
I think though, giving the huge american presence at this airport, the name "Thatcher Intercontinental" is very fitting and certainly would make Gatwick seem a little more important in the eyes of the international community than it does today.
TriStar500 From Germany, joined Nov 1999, 4685 posts, RR: 47 Reply 1, posted (9 years 1 month 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 2922 times:
Why not keep the names as they are? Both Heathrow and Gatwick are well-known to the public as the crossroads of the skies and there is no need to further improve the public awareness of these airports.
You can spare a lot of controversy if you don't rename such well-known airports with the name of a former prime minister and, in the other case, someone, whose greatest achievement in life was arguably her extensive self-promotion to the yellow press.
[Edited 2004-04-22 11:27:56]
Homer: Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!
Cedarjet From United Kingdom, joined May 1999, 7703 posts, RR: 55 Reply 2, posted (9 years 1 month 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 2901 times:
If someone names an airport after Thatch, I'll kill myself. And so will most people in the UK. Come and visit and see the social devastation that psycho wreaked on this country before you tell us what to name our airports.
Cadmus From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2004, 183 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (9 years 1 month 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 2853 times:
Interesting point. While I wouldn't wish ill on Mrs T (I was always a big fan), the fact is that she is elderly and has had some health scares, so we may soon be facing the question of how to commemorate her life. I can't see any of the London airports being renamed in their entirety, although T5 at Heathrow might be a possibility. My money is on a Royal Navy nuclear powered submarine or one of the new Type 45 destroyers.
Richierich From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 4022 posts, RR: 6 Reply 7, posted (9 years 1 month 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 2586 times:
I don't know... I think people would call the airport its proper name after just a few years.
In the USA, people came to know JFK Airport in New York pretty soon after it was commemorated for the fallen President. Sure there some who called it Idyllwild (and still do) but people got used to name pretty quickly.
As for LHR and LGW, I hope they don't change the names. As someone else said, they are very recognizable and very British names. Heathrow sounds like a grassy meadow (not a concrete jungle).
PU151 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (9 years 1 month 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2467 times:
Come on, if you're gonna rename the airports at least give'em some more glorious name, like Churchill Int'l, or maybe choose Sir Francis Drake, or a king. Not that I think Thatcher didn't leave her mark on British history, but, well, I think that there are people that deserve it more... And, just imagine how neat a Churchill-CDG flight would be....
USAIRWAYS321 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 1806 posts, RR: 10 Reply 12, posted (9 years 1 month 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 2325 times:
I totally agree that the names of both of these airports should remain Heathrow & Gatwick. They are 2 of the most recognizable airports in the world, even among Americans. While the average American may not know what cities John Wayne International or George Bush Intercontinental are in, they will certainly identify Heathrow & Gatwick with London. I'm confident that most people worldwide are the same way.
If something must be renamed in Thatcher's honor, what about Luton?
Kaitak From Ireland, joined Aug 1999, 11952 posts, RR: 37 Reply 14, posted (9 years 1 month 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 2178 times:
If they did name an airport after MT, they could have a direct link to Tehran's new Khomeini Airport; there's two names people will really find welcoming.
No, I don't think Thatcher is going to be a very welcoming name for an airport.
Skyguy From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 461 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (9 years 1 month 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 2126 times:
Whats wrong with the current names? Heathrow and Gatwick sound perfectly OK.
JFK got called that simply because it was at that time not uncommon in the US to name airports after distinguished government servants but also because JFK airports real name, Idlewild, did not have quite the same ring or cachet that made it sound like a major international airport.
Leave LHR & LGW alone.
"Those who talk, do not know, and those who know, do not talk."
OV735 From Estonia, joined Jan 2004, 860 posts, RR: 2 Reply 16, posted (9 years 1 month 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 2060 times:
Heathrow and Gatwick, as many stated above, are two of the most famous airports in the world, just like JFK and Narita for example.
I see no reason to rename either of them, especially with a name of someone as controversial as Margaret Thatcher. I've nothing against the Iron Lady myself, but look at some of the opinions above...
An airport should be named so that everyone, well, at least almost everyone would like it. Warsaw Frederick Chopin is a perfect example. Why not, say,
William Shakespeare International, if it has to be renamed?
Mhodgson From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2002, 5047 posts, RR: 29 Reply 18, posted (9 years 1 month 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 2038 times:
Keep Heathrow and Gatwick... Names don't work (Robin Hood Doncaster-Sheffield airport? Pur-lease!).
If one must be named after her, I suggest one in the north east, in an area ravaged by her and the miners strike (Hatfield would be a good choice was it not closed!).
No trees were harmed by this message. However, several million electrons were terribly inconvenienced
ConcordeBoy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (9 years 1 month 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 1997 times:
Keep them as they are... Heathrow & Gatwick are fine!
It's not exactly like Diana has been relegated to nothing more than a belch in some worm's conversation.... hell, any book about her still becomes a best seller, and just the other day she's getting all this media coverage over post-crash/pre-mortem pictures.
Copenhagenboy From Denmark, joined Sep 2001, 589 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (9 years 1 month 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 1954 times:
I would be scared to death landing in Thatcher International, I would certainly try to avoid it She had not at all charm like here friend Ronald Reagan, just a cold lady.
Carduelis From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2001, 1585 posts, RR: 11 Reply 21, posted (9 years 1 month 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 1952 times:
Heathrow's history goes far longer back than what is expressed in the BAA website! The original grass runway airport, at Hounslow Heath, was the place of the very first commercial international flight! For some good value information, explore the link below:-
VS11 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 978 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (9 years 1 month 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 1857 times:
I thought the original post was a joke. At least I found it very entertaining and somewhat ironic since I think the idea of changing the airports names is rather impossible - it is not like the Brits are known for their eagerness for change of any kind.
Also, Sir Richard never liked Thatcher. She was a huge supporter of BA. She moved heaven and earth to privatize it - including having US President Reagan use his veto powers to terminate the litigation in the US that Sir Freddie Lakers started over collusion against his airline.
And of course, Gatwick is hardly intercontinental with its one physical runway.
Leviticus From New Zealand, joined Oct 2007, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (9 years 1 month 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 1841 times:
I think the name change idea sucks but adding a name would not be a dumb idea, like "London Gatwick - Thatcher International" or "London Heathrow - Churchill International".
Just my $ 0.02
25 LTBEWR: The naming of airports is someting that often gets tangled up with politics. Don't rename LHR for a recent PM or LGW for someone local in politics or
26 FlightLover: To what has been said earlier by Lufthansa, I would add that Reagan and Thatcher were very good friends!!! Reagan National airport serves the capital
27 Bongo: I have a better idea: let´s keep Gatwick as Gatwick an Heathrow for Heathrow. I don't see why change the name of those airports.
28 Ckfred: SNA used to be Santa Ana, but it was renamed John Wanye International not to honor the Duke, but to see if noise complaints would decrease. Orange Cou
29 OzarkD9S: I hope they leave Gatwick and Heathrow as they are, no need to change them. Here in the States, none of my relatives in the Northern Virginia area, wh
30 Slider: I'm a big advocate of naming airports after famous or local civilian or military aviation figures. MKE is named for Gen. Billy Mitchell, an aviation p
31 Arsenal@LHR: There is absolutely no need for a name change, there was speculation a few years ago about renaming Heathrow to something like "London Princess Diana
32 Ant72LBA: Couple of bits of info; Churchill was one of the Royal Navy's earlier nuclear powered attack submarines of the same class as Conqueror which sank the
33 Ba319-131: Whilst we have no need to change the names, Margaret Thatcher Intl would be a great name,she was the best PM we've had since Churchill and nobody has
34 Copenhagenboy: As I see it, name the airport because where are situated or by someone really special person. It will allways be stupied to name an airport by the nam
35 Cadmus: "Perhaps Stansted could get a new name instead? It might get it recognised more outside of europe?" Stansted's my local so I'd be delighted if that on
36 GustyOrange: Wreck the UK, Arsenal ? Are you having a laffff ? You might not remember the 3 day week, unions running the country, rubbish in the streets, power cut
37 Carduelis: VS11 LGW may only have one active runway, but is/was/still the second largest airport in the World for carriage of International passengers! LHR bein
38 Mas777: Why fix something that ain't broke - Heathrow and Gatwick are just fine. Airports should be named after areas anyway which is where the airfield ACTUA
39 KEESJE: Well, as long I don't have to Thatcher ..
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