Airport set to change name again

The name issue was raised by people in a consultation exercise

Nottingham East Midlands Airport is set to reveal a new name - only three years after it was changed.

"Nottingham" was put in to the airport's title because the city was more widely known abroad than the East Midlands region as a whole.

The airport is located in Leicestershire, but Derby is actually the closest city.

Some business leaders said the name Nottingham East Midlands Airport had not promoted the region properly.

The change comes as managers released the airport's new draft master plan proposals.

'Baffling decision'

Business leaders had argued that the name had remained East Midlands Airport on most electronic notice boards in Europe.

It is understood the new name will include Derby, Leicester and Nottingham somewhere in the title.

This is an absolutely baffling decision - not just bad for Nottingham but bad for Leicester, bad for Derby and bad for the East Midlands Michael Frater, Nottingham City Council

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.

"We welcome the change - the airport represents the whole region."

Nottingham City Council Leader Jon Collins said the decision to change the name was "stupid" - adding that "airport managers must have taken leave of their senses."

"The airport say they've consulted on this. They haven't consulted me or this council.

"The airport using the internationally recognised Nottingham city brand has contributed to a 23% increase in overseas visits to the East Midlands."

Nottingham City Council chief executive Michael Frater said: "This is an absolutely baffling decision - not just bad for Nottingham but bad for Leicester, bad for Derby and bad for the East Midlands."

The airport's managing director, Penny Coates, had said previously that the airport had seen a significant increase in inbound passengers as a result of the new name.