Climate activists ground over 100 flights at Frankfurt airport in protest
50 flights canceled at Frankfurt Airport due to climate activists' protest in Germany, Frankfurt, July 25, 2024 (AA Photo)
Germany’s busiest airport was forced to cancel over 100 flights Thursday morning after climate activists breached security and blocked runways by gluing themselves to the tarmac.
Officials took to social media platform X to advise passengers not to travel to the airport and to check their flight status, warning of potential delays.
The Last Generation climate group orchestrated the protest, which claimed that six of its members had cut through a fence to access various points around the runways.
Activists were seen holding posters with the message “Oil kills.” Images released by the group showed protesters wearing orange high-visibility vests with their hands affixed to the tarmac.
A police spokesperson confirmed the presence of several climate activists on airport grounds.
Shortly before 8:00 a.m., the airport said that flight operations were “gradually resuming” and that all runways were back in operation.
It added that about 140 flights had been canceled so far – roughly a tenth of the flights scheduled for Thursday.
The action is part of Last Generation’s broader campaign, which began on Wednesday and is set to include similar disruptions across Europe and North America.
The group reiterated its demand for the German government to participate in shaping and signing a global agreement to phase out oil, gas, and coal by 2030.
It follows similar incidents at Heathrow and Germany’s Cologne-Bonn airport, the country’s sixth-largest.
On Wednesday, flights were suspended for several hours after activists glued themselves to a runway.
On Wednesday, Just Stop Oil (JSO) members cycled around the perimeter of Heathrow before being taken into custody on suspicion of conspiring to interfere with a site of critical national infrastructure under the Public Order Act.
JSO hailed the start of “the international uprising” by posting a video of the arrested activists. Sean Callaghan, 29, was filmed saying: “I’m taking action with Just Stop Oil at airports this summer because it is impossible for me to see a way in which we can inspire and enthuse students about the future of our planet.”
“We are in full agreement that the aviation industry needs to decarbonize, but unlawful and irresponsible protest activity will not be tolerated,” a Heathrow spokesman said.
Last Generation activist Ronja Kuenkler said Wednesday’s protest was “just the beginning” but declined to comment on whether the group would target the Paris Olympics, which are because of start on Friday.
