On Thursday, July 25, 2024, flight operations at Germany’s busiest airport, Frankfurt Airport, were temporarily suspended when climate activists staged a protest by gluing themselves to the tarmac. The incident led to the cancellation of more than 100 flights.
Incident Details
Federal police reported that several demonstrators from the climate activist group Last Generation managed to enter the airport early in the morning. Six protesters cut through the perimeter fence and approached the runways using various means such as foot, bicycle, and skateboard.
Flight operations began “gradually resuming” shortly before 8 AM, and the airport announced on X that all runways were back in operation shortly after. However, around 140 flights, approximately one-tenth of the scheduled flights for the day, were cancelled due to the disruption.
Ongoing Protests Across Europe
This incident at Frankfurt Airport marked the second consecutive day of protests by Last Generation. The previous day, the group staged similar protests at Cologne-Bonn, Barcelona, Helsinki, and Oslo airports.
The activists are demonstrating under the campaign ‘Oil Kills,’ demanding that governments phase out oil, gas, and coal by 2030 by signing a binding international treaty. They are calling for an end to the extraction and burning of fossil fuels and for support and financing to help poorer countries transition to cleaner energy sources.
Recent Legislative Responses
The frequency of such airport protests has led to significant disruptions in recent years. In response, the German cabinet approved a bill last week to impose stricter penalties on individuals who breach airport perimeters. The proposed legislation, which still requires approval from MPs, includes penalties of up to two years in prison for intentionally intruding on restricted airport areas, endangering civil aviation, or assisting others in doing so. In some cases, a sentence of up to five years would be possible.
The recent protests and the subsequent disruptions highlight the increasing tension between climate activists and authorities. As the summer of disruption begins, airports and governments across Europe are bracing for more actions from groups like Last Generation, which continue to push for urgent climate action.
