Reporting from Broad Street during the Ozzy Osbourne procession, we bring vox pop reactions to the campaign calling on Birmingham Airport to rename itself in his honour. With over 40,000 signatures, fans debate whether an airport name or a mural inside is the right tribute - and why it matters for the city’s identity and economy.
00:00For some it's about legacy, for others branding, but the idea of calling it Aussie Osborne International Airport has struck a nerve.
00:09Not just with fans, but with Brummies who see Aussie as a symbol of the city's global reach.
00:15The comparison to John Lennon Airport in Liverpool keeps coming up and with over 40,000 signatures on the petition, the idea clearly has traction.
00:25But does it fly with locals? We spoke to people at the procession to hear whether they back the renaming or is it a step too far?
00:33Yes, I think the airport should be called Aussie Osborne first because he's a hero of the city.
00:40Second, because he's the most important person in the city.
00:43And as well as because I think it would be very beautiful just to go on holidays and say like,
00:48Oh no, I'm going to Aussie Osborne Airport and going to Spain. Like, I want that. So I hope actually happens.
00:55Of course.
00:56100%.
00:57Everybody. Of course, of course. What he's done for Birmingham. Absolutely amazing. Yes.
01:02Yeah, definitely. Definitely.
01:04Yeah.
01:05Yeah, to me it's bigger than what's Liverpool one. That's John Lennon. So for me, he's bigger than that.
01:11And I think it will help attract a lot of people to Birmingham just by the name of it. And I think that's an absolutely fantastic idea.
01:18Yes. Because at the moment it's international. And in my eyes, it's not the right name.
01:27Liverpool's got John Lennon Airport. We should have Aussie Airport.
01:32I do, yeah. Aussie International all the way.
01:36The response has been loud and mostly positive, but the airport isn't budging.
01:41Officials say they have no plans to rename the site, despite the scale of public support.
01:46Instead, they're looking at a mural or artwork inside the terminal as a more appropriate tribute.
01:52That's left some people satisfied, but others feeling short-changed.
01:57So what do those do who turned out for Aussie's final send-off, make up the decision to go for art over action?
02:06I think the mural will be nice as well, but the name for the airport should be, like, done, like, sorry.
02:13The name of the airport should be that one.
02:16Plus the mural and plus if they want a museum or something like that of pictures.
02:20But I think that's, like, step number one.
02:22I do like the idea of a mural, but the name would have been better.
02:26Well, it's still a nice, it's a very nice move.
02:31I think it still remembers him.
02:32But I think if you really want to go the extra mile and put Birmingham,
02:35continue to put Birmingham on the map, naming it after him would be the best way.
02:38I don't really know anyone else you'd name it after at the moment.
02:40So I think a mural's nice, but why not go all the way?
02:44Muriel's lovely, great, but name it Aussie, name it Sabbath, whatever.
02:49Do it both, like John Lennon, do both.
02:51You know, he deserves that and the community now.
02:56He's done everything he can, amazing, never be forgotten.
