News
Belfast City Airport to be named Best
21 March 2006
Belfast City Airport is to be renamed in honour of the city's greatest footballing son George Best.
The renaming ceremony will take place on May 22, which would have been Best's 60th birthday.
Belfast City Airport chief executive Brian Ambrose explained that following the footballing legend's funeral his family was contacted and they thought that renaming the airport would be the most appropriate memorial.
He said: "George Best was the finest footballer Northern Ireland has ever produced and one of the greatest footballers to grace the world stage and a man who the public had great affection for.
"We believe that re-naming the airport after George is a fitting and permanent tribute to his footballing brilliance. With 2.2 million passengers passing through the airport each year, this will act as constant reminder of Belfast's favourite son."
A spokesperson for the Best family added: "We are delighted that airport management have decided to re-name the airport in honour of George. Belfast City Airport is synonymous with East Belfast and with thousands of people using the airport on a daily basis George's memory will never be forgotten.
"This is a highly visible and lasting memorial to George that we hope will please many people in Northern Ireland."
The airport now follows the example set by Liverpool's airport that renamed itself as the Liverpool John Lennon Airport in 2002 and Gdansk's, which changed its name to the Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport in 2004.
Last week Flybe named a plane, which will fly between Manchester and Belfast, after the footballer.
© Adfero Ltd
The renaming ceremony will take place on May 22, which would have been Best's 60th birthday.
Belfast City Airport chief executive Brian Ambrose explained that following the footballing legend's funeral his family was contacted and they thought that renaming the airport would be the most appropriate memorial.
He said: "George Best was the finest footballer Northern Ireland has ever produced and one of the greatest footballers to grace the world stage and a man who the public had great affection for.
"We believe that re-naming the airport after George is a fitting and permanent tribute to his footballing brilliance. With 2.2 million passengers passing through the airport each year, this will act as constant reminder of Belfast's favourite son."
A spokesperson for the Best family added: "We are delighted that airport management have decided to re-name the airport in honour of George. Belfast City Airport is synonymous with East Belfast and with thousands of people using the airport on a daily basis George's memory will never be forgotten.
"This is a highly visible and lasting memorial to George that we hope will please many people in Northern Ireland."
The airport now follows the example set by Liverpool's airport that renamed itself as the Liverpool John Lennon Airport in 2002 and Gdansk's, which changed its name to the Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport in 2004.
Last week Flybe named a plane, which will fly between Manchester and Belfast, after the footballer.
© Adfero Ltd
