MANY airports around the world are named after global stars who hail from the surrounding area – but should Glasgow follow in their footsteps?
A change.org petition to rename Glasgow Airport in honour of comedian, musician and artist Sir Billy Connolly has been gaining traction online with over 300 signatures so far.
The petition's founder, Brian Paul, argues that we should recognise the Scottish icon for his work in music and film now due to his ongoing health concerns.
Paul described Connolly as an "all time Scottish legend who deserves to be recognised" and added "who wouldn’t want to fly into ‘The Big Yin’".
READ MORE: WATCH: Billy Connolly shares cheerful message to remind everyone he's 'not dead'
Other airports that use their name to recognise a local hero include Liverpool, which was named after John Lennon in 2001, Salzburg, which honours Mozart, and Belfast, which remembers footballer George Best.
Billy Connolly was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2012 and recently opened up about his struggle with the illness in two-part BBC documentary series Made In Scotland.
Connolly on his 2016 High Horse tour
Towards the end of the second episode, the 76-year-old star told viewers: "My Parkinson’s is not going to go away and it’s going to get worse – my life is slipping away.”
But in the days following the show's airing, Connolly's wife Pamela Stephenson posted a video on Twitter of him clearing things up.
Today pic.twitter.com/iw6q5ZWd5f
— Pamela Stephenson (@PamelaStephensn) January 5, 2019
In the clip he apologises, saying: “Sorry if I depressed you. Maybe I should have phrased it better.”
READ MORE: Billy Connolly puts out third art collection in Glasgow
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