Climate Activists Disrupt Flights at Frankfurt Airport

Frankfurt, Germany – Travelers at Germany’s busiest airport faced significant disruptions on Thursday as climate activists staged a protest, leading to the cancellation of more than 100 flights. The protests come during one of the busiest times of the year, the summer holiday season.

Authorities at Frankfurt Airport initially halted flights for safety reasons after activists breached security fences. Emergency crews, including police and firefighters, quickly responded to the situation. All runways were back in operation by 7:50 a.m. local time, but not before around 140 flights were canceled, with more disruptions expected throughout the day.

The climate activist group, Last Generation, was behind the demonstration. They reported that six protesters entered the airport by cutting holes in the perimeter fence and made their way towards the runways on foot, bicycles, and skateboards.

This was not the first disruption caused by Last Generation – just the day before, activists glued themselves to a taxiway at Cologne-Bonn Airport, which temporarily halted flights for three hours and canceled 31 flights.

The movement plans to escalate their protests across various airports in Europe this summer, aiming to drive home the link between fossil fuels, climate change, and the need for urgent action. Their goal is to push governments worldwide to end fossil fuel extraction and usage by 2030.

Similar protests occurred in other European countries on Wednesday, with activists blocking key areas at airports in Helsinki, Norway, and Spain. Meanwhile, in London, police were quick to act and prevented a planned protest at Heathrow Airport, arresting members of the Just Stop Oil group.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser criticized the protests as “dangerous, dumb, and criminal,” emphasizing the need for tougher penalties against such unauthorized demonstrations at airports. The government has proposed new legislation that would impose harsher sentences, including up to two years in prison for those who breach airport security.

The Last Generation activists and their associated A22 Network are expected to continue their campaign in multiple countries over the upcoming months. They emphasize that the aviation industry accounts for a notable share of global carbon emissions, impacting climate change.