On Thursday, environmental activists caused significant disruption at Germany's busiest airport, leading to the cancellation of 270 flights. The coordinated protest aimed to draw attention to climate change issues during the peak summer vacation period.
Frankfurt Airport reported that flights were halted for safety reasons after activists breached security fences early in the morning. Operations resumed by 7:50am local time. By the evening, airport operator Fraport confirmed that 270 out of 1,400 scheduled flights had been canceled, according to the German news agency dpa.
Police reported that seven individuals damaged the airport's perimeter fence and entered the premises around 5am, attaching themselves to various locations on the tarmac. An eighth person attached themselves to the fence. All eight were detained.
The environmental groups behind the protests announced plans to target airports across Europe this summer to highlight the connection between fossil fuels, used in air travel, and climate change. They are calling on governments to cease fossil fuel extraction and usage by 2030.
Climate data revealed that Monday was the hottest day ever recorded, underscoring the impact of human-induced climate change. Despite global commitments to reduce fossil fuel use, the International Energy Agency predicts a 7% increase in investments in oil and gas this year.
Flying is one of the most carbon-intensive activities, yet the aviation industry is expected to continue growing, which contrasts with efforts to address the climate crisis.
The protest at Frankfurt Airport was the second disruption in two days by the Last Generation group. On Wednesday, five protesters glued themselves to a taxiway at Cologne-Bonn Airport, leading to a three-hour halt and the cancellation of 31 flights.
Similar actions occurred in Finland, Norway, Switzerland, and Spain on Wednesday. At Helsinki Airport, a brief protest in the check-in area caused no delays, while at Oslo's Gardermoen Airport, three activists briefly disrupted air traffic. London police thwarted a planned protest at Heathrow Airport, arresting seven members of the group Just Stop Oil and three others at different locations.
In response to these incidents, the German Cabinet recently approved a bill to impose stricter penalties for airport perimeter breaches. If enacted, the legislation could result in up to two years in prison for individuals who intentionally enter restricted airport areas or endanger aviation, replacing the current fine-based penalties.
