A public campaign to rename Birmingham Airport in honour of the late music icon Ozzy Osbourne has gathered significant momentum, amassing close to 80,000 signatures. However, the proposal has been firmly grounded by the airport's chief executive.
Petition Soars But Official Response Is a Firm 'No'
The online petition, launched on Change.org by Dan Hudson, calls for the transport hub to be rebranded as Ozzy Osbourne International Airport. It has gained remarkable traction, with over 76,000 signatures at the time of reporting. The push follows the death of the Black Sabbath frontman in July 2025 at the age of 76, and coincided with what would have been his 77th birthday on 3rd December.
Despite the public support, the idea has been directly rejected by Birmingham Airport's leadership. Chief Executive Nick Barton stated unequivocally that the airport's name will not be changed. He emphasised that the existing Birmingham Airport name is "incredibly valuable for development" and crucial for its future growth ambitions.
Airport Boss Cites Birmingham's Rich Legacy
Speaking to BBC West Midlands, Barton acknowledged the city's plethora of influential figures but stood by the decision. "Birmingham, amazingly, has an extraordinary list of fantastically influential people, going from historic people like Charles Darwin, as well as Robert Plant and Sir Lenny Henry, but the answer is no," he said.
He explained the strategic reasoning, noting: "The airport name is so important for our future development of what we've got, which is a fantastic airport, but yet to grow significantly, which we will do on the back of its name."
A Mural Tribute Planned Instead
While ruling out a full renaming, Nick Barton confirmed that the airport will honour Ozzy Osbourne in a different way. Plans are in place to feature a memorial to the rock legend within the terminal. "It'll be like a mural recognition of Ozzy and other greats in the area," he confirmed.
The petition creator, Dan Hudson, argued that naming the airport after Osbourne would be a fitting tribute to his global cultural impact. He pointed to precedents like Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Belfast George Best City Airport as examples of UK airports named after local icons.
In his petition statement, Hudson wrote: "Ozzy Osbourne was the most important musician ever to hail from Birmingham... Naming our international airport after him would be a fitting tribute to his extraordinary career." He told the BBC that the campaign "isn't going away," suggesting supporters may continue to push for the change despite the current setback.
The situation highlights the powerful connection between a city's identity and its cultural heroes, even as practical business considerations take precedence in official decision-making.
