Airports Cancel 171 Flights as Climate Activists Block Runways

A recent surge in climate protests across Europe has caused major disruptions at some of the busiest airports, with activists gluing themselves to taxiways. Thousands of passengers are now seeking compensation for canceled flights, and local authorities are calling for enhanced airport security. Meanwhile, the environmental group behind the protests has announced plans for similar actions across Europe and beyond in the coming weeks.

Protesters’ Demands

The Last Generation climate group, which orchestrated these protests, is calling on governments to implement a binding global treaty to end the extraction and burning of gas, oil, and coal by 2030. According to Our World in Data, air travel accounts for nearly 2.5% of global carbon emissions and contributes approximately 4% to global warming.

Most Affected Airports

To draw attention to the dangers of fossil fuel use, activists targeted several major European airports:

• Frankfurt Airport: As Europe’s busiest air hub, Frankfurt experienced significant disruptions on July 25. Six members of the climate group breached the airport’s perimeter and glued themselves to various points on the runways using a mixture of glue and sand. They displayed posters reading “Oil kills” but were removed before 8 a.m. The protests led to the cancellation of 140 out of 1,400 scheduled flights, with many more delayed. Passengers affected by these disruptions have been pursuing compensation for flight delays at Frankfurt am Main Airport.
• Cologne-Bonn Airport: On July 24, five activists from Last Generation blocked operations at Germany’s sixth-largest airport by gluing themselves to the runway for several hours. This led to the suspension of all morning flights until 9 a.m., resulting in 6 diverted flights and 31 cancellations, along with numerous delays.
• Heathrow Airport: Although the UK’s largest airport was also targeted, British police intervened on Wednesday, arresting ten activists from the Just Stop Oil group before they could disrupt flights. While this action prevented any flight cancellations, travelers should remain informed about their rights regarding compensation for delays and cancellations at Heathrow.

Similar peaceful protests occurred at other European airports, including Helsinki Vantaa, Barcelona El Prat, Vienna, Oslo, and Zurich. However, these demonstrations were quickly dispersed by police and had minimal impact on air traffic.

Legislation Against Breaking Airport Perimeters

Currently, protesters who breach airport perimeters face fines, but stricter laws may be on the horizon. The German Cabinet is considering a new bill that could impose prison sentences of up to two to five years for individuals who intrude with prohibited items like knives, weapons, or hazardous substances, or who commit other crimes.