Call for Gatwick Airport to be renamed Croydon International

4:00pm Friday 15th February 2013 in News

Call for Gatwick Airport to be renamed Croydon International Call for Gatwick Airport to be renamed Croydon International

Could Gatwick Airport become Croydon International?

That is the plan of one London councillor who believes the airport should be named after the south London town.

Steve O’Connell, Assembly Member for Croydon and Sutton, put forward the idea at the Greater London Assembly’s transport committee while backing a second runway at Gatwick.

He said: “Gatwick is 15 minutes from East Croydon, it is seen as a London airport and Croydon with the investment coming in is fast becoming the economic powerhouse of the south.

"So it would make sense to me to make even more of a closer alignment between greater Croydon and Gatwick, build a new runway – probably after 2020 – and then align it with Croydon.

“It becomes the London airport of the south. Croydon is the economic powerhouse of the south, so it is Croydon International Airport.

“We are flying the idea up the flag- pole and we’ll see where it takes us.

“You go to cities where there are airports that aren’t in the town itself, they are just outside. There is New York Airport.

"So it doesn’t have to be slap-bang in the middle of London to be a London Airport. Stansted is London Stansted so let’s have London Croydon.”

Crawley Borough Council leader Bob Lanzer said he welcomed the suggestion but believed it would remove the history of both sites.

He added: “I think it detracts from the history of Croydon with its own background having the first airport.

“I would not want to take that away from them.

“And Gatwick has its own history being the first airport built with an integrated railway station.”

Coun Lanzer said he was also against a second runway, saying “one was enough”.

When asked whether the airport should be renamed Crawley International he added: “I would have to give it some thought but I am happy enough with it being called Gatwick.

“It will save a lot of effort and cost in changing all the systems and signs.”

Comments(44)

Crystal Ball says...
4:14pm Fri 15 Feb 13

"We are flying the idea up the flag- pole and we’ll see where it takes us"? What sort of corporate buzz-talk is that rubbish?

Speak English man. Or maybe you can't.

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s_james says...
4:15pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Would never happen

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brighton-breezy says...
4:16pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Steve O’Connell, Assembly Member for Croydon and Sutton sounds like he smokes too much weed and has too much time on his hands, this is possibly one of the most idiotic suggestions I have ever heard, It should remain being called at Gatwick due to its location ie on the site of the Gatwick Manor and NOT in Croydon!, the cost involved in renaming an airport would be horrendous and for no obvious gains. Steve, you need to get yourself a hobby!

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Ohnotagain ! says...
4:18pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Really !! Get a life......

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qm says...
4:23pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Croydon already had a airport and chose to close it, and if Steve O’Connell thinks he can get to East Croydon in 15 minutes presumably by road, I am sure the local Police would be extremely interested in witnessing any attempts.
LGW/EGKK is in Sussex, is called Gatwick and we like it that way!
If you want to increase your real estate Mr. O'Connell, start digging!

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Mark the cab says...
4:25pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Why don't we run Brighton & Hove as a name up the flag pole at least it's in Sussex

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Unbias says...
4:32pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Pah, stupid idea....this IS Gatwick, Croydon airport should be in Croydon.

The Palace Pier will be renamed Brighton Pier before that would happen!.....oh yeah it has hasn't it.....that was a good move too wasn't it!

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qm says...
4:34pm Fri 15 Feb 13

And yes, Stansted is known as London Stansted, and Gatwick is known as London Gatwick, hence the LGW ID.
Besides all that, London Croydon International still exists, its alongside the Purley way and some idiot has built a so called economic powerhouse all over it! Start digging Steve!

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medianscore says...
4:35pm Fri 15 Feb 13

It would be more appropriate to call it Crawley International. Croydon?, I don't think so.

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upsidedowntuctuc says...
4:48pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Maybe it could be called Brighton International with Hot Air Balloons powered by KitKat and Davey's hot air?
Only access by cycle and a 20MPH speed limit on the Runway?
Think Crawley might have something to say on this Now there is an Economic Power House

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Tammy Flugh says...
4:49pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Crystal Ball wrote:
"We are flying the idea up the flag- pole and we’ll see where it takes us"? What sort of corporate buzz-talk is that rubbish?

Speak English man. Or maybe you can't.
Gus Hedges lives!

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upsidedowntuctuc says...
4:49pm Fri 15 Feb 13

As Opposed to Brighton which is a Green S..t House!

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Spx says...
5:02pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Gatwack!

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Mart says...
5:15pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Don't call it Croydon as that will only give the green light for some saarf london rude bois to burn it all down...

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loftylad says...
5:24pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Its as ridiculous as London Oxford, London Southend or the latest idea of changing the name of Lydd Airport (in the middle of nowhere) to London Ashford.

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vogon1 says...
6:02pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Can you imagine going on holiday to somewhere exotic, say Bali, and then flying back to Croydon? What a come-down...

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peebee9 says...
6:04pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Perhaps Croydon would like the 2nd runway?

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8273661 says...
6:30pm Fri 15 Feb 13

What is Brighton International's (aka Shoreham's) view on this?

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inadaptado says...
6:41pm Fri 15 Feb 13

upsidedowntuctuc wrote:
Maybe it could be called Brighton International with Hot Air Balloons powered by KitKat and Davey's hot air?
Only access by cycle and a 20MPH speed limit on the Runway?
Think Crawley might have something to say on this Now there is an Economic Power House
I think you've forgotten to take your medication.

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lorrie1 says...
7:51pm Fri 15 Feb 13

vogon1 wrote:
Can you imagine going on holiday to somewhere exotic, say Bali, and then flying back to Croydon? What a come-down...
Exactly! coming back from a lovely holiday to Croydon ,
Dont forget to lock up all your valubles if you ever want to see them again, you will probably get off the plane and have some yardy try to sell you some pot!

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cvs says...
8:25pm Fri 15 Feb 13

I notice that foreign cruise brochures name London as a destination when in fact the ship calls at Southampton. Poetic licence I guess.

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bogs says...
9:01pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Get Lost!

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Dave At Home says...
10:09pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Gatwick is in the Surrey countryside but as the Surrey cops have to police Heathrow (yes they share it with the Met) they agreed with the Sussex mob to realign the county boundary line so to burden Sussex with the costs. Now what county does Croydon lie in again?

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SanFranciscoSeagull says...
10:28pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Next thing you know they'll want to call it Crystal Palarse Airport, complete with citizen, non-citizen & **** zones...Dream on Councillor, It's London Gatwick, period.

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SanFranciscoSeagull says...
10:28pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Next thing you know they'll want to call it Crystal Palarse Airport, complete with citizen, non-citizen & **** zones...Dream on Councillor, It's London Gatwick, period.

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qm says...
11:21pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Dave At Home wrote:
Gatwick is in the Surrey countryside but as the Surrey cops have to police Heathrow (yes they share it with the Met) they agreed with the Sussex mob to realign the county boundary line so to burden Sussex with the costs. Now what county does Croydon lie in again?
West Sussex actually

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John Steed says...
11:23pm Fri 15 Feb 13

the mans a fool

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qm says...
11:23pm Fri 15 Feb 13

qm wrote:
Dave At Home wrote:
Gatwick is in the Surrey countryside but as the Surrey cops have to police Heathrow (yes they share it with the Met) they agreed with the Sussex mob to realign the county boundary line so to burden Sussex with the costs. Now what county does Croydon lie in again?
West Sussex actually
And Heathrow is in Middlesex - Thames Valley Police

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FatherTed11 says...
11:25pm Fri 15 Feb 13

upsidedowntuctuc wrote:
Maybe it could be called Brighton International with Hot Air Balloons powered by KitKat and Davey's hot air?
Only access by cycle and a 20MPH speed limit on the Runway?
Think Crawley might have something to say on this Now there is an Economic Power House
hahahahaha brilliant

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leobrighton says...
12:15am Sat 16 Feb 13

This is why I won't buy the Argus. Even the mutterings of a distant bored councillor are inflicted on my time, life is too short to listen to such twaddle.

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MuammarQaddafi says...
2:12am Sat 16 Feb 13

Nothing wrong with London Gatwick, it's an accurate description from an international traveler's viewpoint. No reason to change it just because some coke-addled yuppie Councillor from Croydon can't summon up enough brainpower for a worthwhile issue.

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Old Ladys Gin says...
4:11am Sat 16 Feb 13

I think this gentleman needs a flagpole inserted somewhere.

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upsidedowntuctuc says...
7:45am Sat 16 Feb 13

inadaptado wrote:
upsidedowntuctuc wrote:
Maybe it could be called Brighton International with Hot Air Balloons powered by KitKat and Davey's hot air?
Only access by cycle and a 20MPH speed limit on the Runway?
Think Crawley might have something to say on this Now there is an Economic Power House
I think you've forgotten to take your medication.
None left dealing with these Green idiots!

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sound_man says...
8:14am Sat 16 Feb 13

Dave At Home wrote:
Gatwick is in the Surrey countryside but as the Surrey cops have to police Heathrow (yes they share it with the Met) they agreed with the Sussex mob to realign the county boundary line so to burden Sussex with the costs. Now what county does Croydon lie in again?
Gatwick is in Sussex. If you look on a county boundary map you'll see it is in Sussex. Just like Horley fire station. It's in West Sussex by about 3 meters and as a result fire and rescue services are provided by......west Sussex fire and rescue service.

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Sussex jim says...
9:16am Sat 16 Feb 13

As it is in Sussex, let's rename it Lewes International, after the dynamic and futuristic County town.

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angrymonkey says...
9:21am Sat 16 Feb 13

He could work for the greens help deal with pink bikes for girls. Leave it as Gatwick do not name it after a dump stuck to london.

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Cave Johnson says...
9:35am Sat 16 Feb 13

This MP is delusional. Firstly yes Gatwick is 15 minutes away from Croydon, BY TRAIN! By that reasoning Three Bridges or Hoerly is closer. Shall we call it Three Bridges International?

And there is no 'New York Airport'. There is JFK, La Guardia and Newark Intermational, all of which are in New York.

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gmgc81 says...
9:46am Sat 16 Feb 13

Steve O'Connell has just awarded himself the Biggest Douche in the Universe award for his absolutely stupid and dumb idea. Bob Lanzer is an idiot also for even welcoming the idea. It's called London Gatwick because it's in (surprise) Gatwick. Most people around the world know it as Gatwick and to be honest it's a classier name than Croydump!

Besides, Brighton's a minimum of 20 mins away. Why not just allow the airport to have a myriad of names based on where the train's going to(!)

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NIMBY hater says...
9:47am Sat 16 Feb 13

qm wrote:
Croydon already had a airport and chose to close it, and if Steve O’Connell thinks he can get to East Croydon in 15 minutes presumably by road, I am sure the local Police would be extremely interested in witnessing any attempts.
LGW/EGKK is in Sussex, is called Gatwick and we like it that way!
If you want to increase your real estate Mr. O'Connell, start digging!
I would think that demolition is the only way to increase the real estate value in Croydon

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kennydoit says...
11:16am Sat 16 Feb 13

Perhaps Kitkat will call it Greater Brighton Airport....... then close it and replace it with a bike rack

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clarkebrighton says...
1:38pm Sat 16 Feb 13

Bloody Idiot.

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MiniCHRIS says...
2:56pm Sat 16 Feb 13

Is it April fools day already?

Mr O Connell your high on something and if you want a 2nd Runway put it in your garden and not in mine..

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Brighton Visitor says...
4:05pm Sat 16 Feb 13

Croydon is in Surrey

Gatwick is Sussex.

Sheesh

Why not just rename Brighton and Hove as Brighton and be done with it?

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micklin says...
7:41pm Sat 16 Feb 13

Croydon was lit up like an airport not so long ago, o'connell go and do one

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