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Frankfurt airport temporarily suspends flights as climate activists block runways. Last Generation demands German government action on fossil fuel phase-out by 2030.
Key Points
- Frankfurt Airport was forced to suspend flights due to climate activists blocking runways.
- Last Generation, a climate activist group, organized the protest to demand an end to fossil fuels by 2030.
- Activists breached the airport’s perimeter and glued themselves to the tarmac.
- Similar disruptions occurred at Cologne-Bonn Airport the previous day.
- Authorities managed to prevent other planned actions at various European airports.
Frankfurt Airport, Germany‘s busiest, experienced significant disruption on Thursday morning when climate activists took to the runways, forcing a temporary suspension of all flights. The protest was organized by the climate activist group Last Generation, which had six of its members breach the airport’s perimeter fence. Once inside, the protesters glued themselves to the tarmac and displayed posters bearing the message “Oil kills.”
The airport authorities quickly advised passengers through the social media platform X to avoid heading to the airport and to check their flight status while allowing for additional travel time. Images circulated by Last Generation showed the protesters in orange safety vests with their hands firmly attached to the runway, underscoring the dramatic nature of their demonstration.
A federal police spokesperson confirmed the presence of several climate activists on the airport grounds, highlighting the serious security breach. This incident is part of a broader, ongoing campaign by Last Generation, which has been targeting various locations across Europe and North America since Wednesday to press their demands.
The primary demand of Last Generation is for the German government to sign a global agreement that aims to phase out oil, gas, and coal by 2030. The group reiterated this call to action on Thursday, emphasizing the urgency of their cause.
This recent protest at Frankfurt Airport followed a similar disruption at Cologne-Bonn Airport, Germany’s sixth-largest, where climate activists also glued themselves to a runway, leading to a temporary halt in flights. Authorities have been on high alert, managing to prevent other planned actions at several European airports.
Ronja Kuenkler, an activist with Last Generation, noted that the protests are just beginning, but declined to reveal if the upcoming Paris Olympics, starting on Friday, would be among their next targets.
