PLANS to rename Newcastle International Airport to include Sunderland in its title are a step closer to becoming reality.

Sunderland City Council’s Liberal Democrat group has launched a motion calling for the local authority to write to airport directors to urge them to rename the site.

The new name proposed was ‘Newcastle Sunderland International Airport’, aiming to reflect both cities it serves. 

Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Edgeworth said the move would “put Sunderland on the map” while supporting and promoting its university and aiding regeneration in the city.

Noting airports such as Leeds Bradford and Doncaster Sheffield, opposition councillors added the new name would also reflect Sunderland’s status as a local authority shareholder in Newcastle International.

The motion was debated at a full council meeting which saw a socially-distanced council chamber assembled within the Montgomery Suite at the Stadium of Light.

However, an amendment proposed by the ruling Labour group called for reference to the name ‘Newcastle Sunderland International Airport’  to be deleted. Instead, councillors were asked to urge airport directors to “consider suitable options” around renaming “best reflect the area it serves.”

Although the amendment won unanimous support, many councillors questioned the reasons for bringing the original motion to council and its relevance to local issues.

Labour’s Paul Stewart, the council’s cabinet secretary, described it as a “gimmick” and said it downplayed the council’s current ambitions for the city – including regeneration plans at Riverside Sunderland, becoming a social landlord again and attracting investment from Legal & General. Councillor Stewart added the council was serious about attracting jobs, business and investment and was rolling out major plans for 5G which would “leave Newcastle in the slow lane.”

Conservative councillor James Doyle added the Lib Dem motion was a “media stunt” and suggested the majority of residents care more about local issues such as council tax, highways and back lanes. The idea of renaming the airport ‘Newcastle Sunderland International’ on the other hand, he explained, had been met with “overwhelming indifference”  judging by the majority of online comments.

Labour councillor Karen Noble questioned the worth of the motion in the context of people struggling during the Covid-19 pandemic – adding recent media coverage had made the council a “laughing stock” in online comments.

But the councillor added that other options could be explored for renaming the airport in future. This included the seven councils in the North-East, known as the ‘LA7,’ consulting on renaming the airport after a public figure – as has been done with Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Following debate, councillors voted unanimously to approve Labour’s amended motion to “consider suitable options” for renaming the airport.

Councillor Niall Hodson, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, accepted the changes and said the council could “rely on the Liberal Democrats to provide some entertainment.”

“Some party has to provide the light relief in British politics and Sunderland politics and I’m more than happy for that to be the Liberal Democrats,” he said. "And I wouldn’t be a Liberal Democrat if I didn’t accept a really crappy compromise.

“Why have proportional representation and electoral reform when you can have a referendum on the alternative vote. Likewise, why have a definitive statement when you can have a wishy-washy commitment to do nothing?"

Sunderland City Council is one of seven local authority shareholders which between them, own 51 per cent of the airport’s operation. The others are Northumberland, Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside and South Tyneside councils.

Newcastle International Airport’s remaining shareholder, with a 49 per cent stake, is AMP Capital. The airport is run as a Public Private Partnership.

Coun. Paul Edgeworth, speaking after the council meeting, said Lib Dems were clear any new name for the airport should include Sunderland.

“Sunderland Council owns the airport just as much as Newcastle, so it’s absolutely right that we are reflected in its name,” he said.

“A name change would help show the world that Sunderland is a great North-East city just as much as Newcastle – and attract more businesses, jobs, investment and students to Wearside in the process.”