Flights to Faro from Londonderry ‘Amelia Earhart?’

Sinn Féin Councillor Elisha McCallion has placed a motion before Derry City Council calling on the local authority to take the necessary steps to have the name of ‘Amelia Earhart, City of Derry Airport’ formally established.

The motion is due to be debated on Tuesday, March 27.

Speaking in advance of the debate Ms McCallion said: “This coming May will mark the 80th Anniversary of Amelia Earhart becoming the first women to fly solo non-stop across the Atlantic. She had intended to fly from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland to Paris but due to technical problems her 14 hour journey ended when she had to set the plane down on farm land at Ballyarnett.

“The story of Amelia Earhart’s epic journey is known throughout the world and we felt that there was a need to recognise the significant visitor potential the Amelia Earhart legacy holds for the city and district.

“One way we could do this is by Derry City Council taking the necessary steps to formally establish the ‘Amelia Earhart, City of Derry Airport.’”

She pointed to the example of other cities which have benefited from changing the name of their local airport such as Liverpool - which in 2002 - was renamed in honour of John Lennon, a founding member of the Beatles.

“With an ever changing tourism market it’s important that as a city we are constantly coming up with new initiatives.

“I believe that changing the name of the airport can be one important component of that and we need to maximise it as speedily as possible in advance of City of Culture year 2013,” she said.