French airport ordered to change its ‘trendy’ English name
An airport in eastern France must change its “trendy” English name to a French one, a court has ruled.
Language purists complained that the name Lorraine Airport infringed language laws with its use of English and was an insulting example of “Anglo-mania”. It must now change its name to Lorraine Aéroport.
The airport chief had argued that the English spelling was more “trendy” and attractive.
But after eight years of legal wrangling, a court in Metz, eastern France, ruled that it should change its name to comply with the so-called Toubon law, which applies strict rules on the use of English and other foreign languages in advertising and state correspondence.
It followed a complaint by the Association Francophonie Avenir (Francophone Future Association). French language purists are fed up with what they perceive as an invasion of “Anglicisms”.
Régis Ravat, the group’s president, said he was delighted with the ruling, telling Le Figaro that it “sets a precedent that will make it possible to proceed more quickly in future cases”.
Yves Loubet, the airport’s managing director, said the English spelling sprung from a desire to “have a commercial name that was more meaningful, a little more geared towards the airline industry”, where English terms were common, he said.
“We’re a very small company, and the idea was to be more trendy and catchy. Does it sell more or less? I don’t know.”
The airport was ordered to pay symbolic damages of €1 and legal fees of €2,500.
Last year, the Francophone Future Association won another court battle that forced the health ministry to withdraw the expression “health data hub” from all its public communication, and to use its French equivalent, “plateforme des données de santé”, instead.
Mr Ravat said his group had launched legal proceedings in another 20-odd cases against the use of English or “Franglais”.
It has in its sights “Oh my Lot” and “Lot of saveurs”, English terms used in branding for the southwestern French département of Lot, which attracts many British tourists.
Another French-language defence group called Oser le Français (Dare to speak French) has filed a further 15 complaints, including against a French government promotional campaign to boost the country’s attractiveness called “Make it iconic!”
