Despite a viral campaign that garnered tens of thousands of signatures, Birmingham Airport will not be rebranding as “Ozzy Osbourne International.” Nick Barton, the airport’s CEO, has definitively ruled out the name change, though he confirmed that a permanent artistic tribute to the late singer is in the works.
The proposal to rename the hub after the “Prince of Darkness” gained significant momentum following Osbourne‘s death in July 2025. A petition launched by fan Dan Hudson attracted nearly 77,000 signatures, arguing that Osbourne was the region’s most globally recognized cultural export.
However, speaking to BBC Radio WM, Barton shut down the possibility of a rebrand, citing the need to maintain the city’s specific identity for future commercial growth.
“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,” Barton stated. “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.”
While the name remains off the table, Barton reiterated the airport’s commitment to honoring Osbourne inside the terminal. He revealed plans for “a mural recognition of Ozzy and other greats in the area.” This aligns with a statement released by the airport two months ago, which promised an “exciting homage” to create a “greater sense of place” for fans.
The decision comes as a disappointment to campaigners and the Osbourne family. Kelly Osbourne had previously endorsed the petition, telling BBC WM that the renaming would be an “incredible tribute to him and the legacy that he has left behind,” noting that “this city made him, and he made this city.”
Dan Hudson, the organizer of the petition, recently presented his case to the Solihull Council, drawing parallels to other UK airports named after cultural icons, such as Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport and Belfast’s George Best City Airport.
“Heavy metal was invented in this area by a man named Ozzy Osbourne in the late 1960s, instantly resonating around the world and having a global impact on generations upon generations of music fans,” Hudson told councilors. “There have been other petitions to honor Mr. Osbourne but this is by far and away the most realistic and popular.”
Osbourne passed away on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76.
