Not so sure it was totally the work of BMIbaby. I think Peel Airports went a little crazy with the naming thing. LiverpoolJohnLennonAirport, and the ludicrous DoncasterSheffieldRobinHoodAirport went with it.

Still I agree, Teesside was a far better name, it did the job

However, I think the folks at MME have far bigger worries right now than another corporate branding

RTG!

Agreed ..

But the name change was certainly the start of the slippery slope :rolleyes:

I do think that a local flavour should be added to the name. Parmo International was always my favourite............for obvious reasons.

I like it! "Ladies and Gentlemen, we shall shortly be arriving at Parmo airport. Would all passenger please have their bechemel sauce ready for inspection. Please remain seated until the aircraft has come to a complete stop and the captain has turned off the half-parmo in a bun sign"

Name
 

Of course the airport had its' 2 most successful years while being called Durham Tees Valley- Changed name in September 2004 Passenger Figures-

2005- 900,035 pax
2006- 906,145 pax

So it seems that those 900,000 pax didn't get 'confused' by the name and it certainly wasn't the start of the slippery slope. The whole area is now called the 'Tees Valley' so some people should really get over the name change and move on and it would be madness to change it back.

However, £1M should have been spent much more wisely and ensured that road signs were correct and websites had the correct name of the airport, instead of taking airlines to court. I wonder what message this is giving out to other airlines??

according to The Times....Peel are trying to attract new investors to its Airport Divn......mainly for developing Liverpool I think.

I don't think there was anything wrong with the Liverpool John Lennon airport naming - this is taken for granted in so many other countries, and The Beatles are an obvious association with Liverpool. Had we ever got our terminal at CVT (or if the winds change in 10 years time and we get it), then I'd like to see some respects paid to Sir Frank Whittle, who's pioneering spirit made jet flight possible.

But DTV & RHDSA are just too long & too muddled, especially as the geographical associations for both are a little bit tenuous.

I agree, John Lennon isnt too bad. But at the same time, how many travel agents or people in the industry refer to "Liverpool John Lennon". Liverpool has one airport, so it doesn't need to be marketed as JL Airport.

The "Durham Tees Valley" thing I find infuriating. Firstly if BMIbaby wanted an obvious link to a city, Durham is so far away even Ryanair wouldnt sell MME as being a connection for it. (Well actually, yeah they probably would).
Secondly the "Tees Valley" appears to be something that exists only to the people who came up with it. I have never referred to anyone from Teesdale, or anyone from Middlesbrough or Darlington refer to the area as the "Tees Valley". Its BBC radio Tees. Its Teesdale District Council. Its Teesside University. Its the Teesside Retail Park. Only in things sponsored by government agencies and the airport makes any reference to the "Tees Valley".

As for DoncasterSheffieldRobinHoodInternational... well where do we start!

RTG!

Whats in a name? We all know where we're talking about when we say Teesside or Durham Tees, I think several people have mentioned the S. Yorks airport without getting the name correct, it's Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield (RHADS) isn't it?

I'm probably wading in out of my depth here...... but could someone explain to an innocent who has visited Durham, Darlington and Middlesborough but never lived there..... as to why MME being called 'Durham Tees Valley' or 'Teesside' is such a critical issue and arouse quite so much local ire ?

People get very territorial about a name, the press had a field day with East Midlands being associated with Nottingham (it's in Leicestershire).

Teesside seems to describe it just fine to me.

I hope DTV turns the corner, I'm not local but have fond memories of visiting on numerous occasions when my brother worked in customs there, not many movements then, mainly BM DC9 and Air Anglia F27 with a few Jet provosts training, seems things are not much better, or even worse now!

I noticed Bmi baby are back sponsoring the local tyne Tees news weather, is this a joke!

N707ZS I noticed Bmi baby are back sponsoring the local tyne Tees news weather, is this a joke!

I noticed same;:yuk:

BUT TT TV or should I now say SW SCotland, Borders & TT TV seemed to be having a lot of 'Gremlins' this pm (May 6th):=

PZU - Out of Africa (Retired)

Airport Name
 

To throw another into the melting pot how about:

Thornaby West And Teesside South??

I think it just about sums the place up?

Airport Name
 

When my Grandfather built/laid the 'runways' and a little later when my Uncle & my Dad were part of the first draft of RAF personnel it was known as

GOOSEPOOL:ok:

PZU - Out of Africa (Retired)

If Ryanair came in and set up a base there, wouldn't they want to call it Newcastle South?

They probably would - but it's not gonna happen.

Questionnaire
 

MME have sent out a questionnaire on travellers preferences, I can't see what difference it will make to the plight of the airport. The question is, will Ryanair by around for you to use the free tickets prize?

These questionnaires are a joke! Most airports do them at some point, but how many airlines act upon them? Takes more than a few questions to convince an airline that a route's worth starting.

Richard,
Absolutely correct, also I think that most airlines will keep well away from MME under the present set up.