On Thursday, environmental activists caused major disruptions at Germany’s busiest airport, leading to the cancellation of 270 flights.
The protest aimed to spotlight climate change issues during the busy summer travel period.
Frankfurt Airport reported that flights were paused for safety after activists breached security fences early in the morning. Operations resumed by 7:50 a.m. local time. By evening, 270 out of 1,400 scheduled flights were canceled, as confirmed by airport operator Fraport.
Police reported that seven individuals damaged the airport’s perimeter fence and entered the premises around 5 a.m., attaching themselves to various locations on the tarmac. An eighth person attached themselves to the fence. All eight were detained.
The environmental groups responsible for the protest plan to target airports across Europe this summer to emphasize the link between fossil fuels in air travel and climate change. They are calling for governments to stop fossil fuel extraction and use by 2030.
Recent climate data shows that Monday was the hottest day ever recorded, highlighting the impact of human-induced climate change. Despite global efforts to reduce fossil fuel use, the International Energy Agency predicts a 7% increase in oil and gas investments this year.
Flying is a highly carbon-intensive activity, yet the aviation industry continues to grow, counteracting climate crisis efforts.
The Frankfurt protest was the second major disruption in two days by the Last Generation group. On Wednesday, five protesters glued themselves to a taxiway at Cologne-Bonn Airport, causing a three-hour halt and the cancellation of 31 flights.
Similar protests occurred in Finland, Norway, Switzerland, and Spain on Wednesday. At Helsinki Airport, a brief protest caused no delays, while Oslo’s Gardermoen Airport experienced a short disruption. London police prevented a planned protest at Heathrow Airport, arresting seven members of the group Just Stop Oil and three others elsewhere.
In response, the German Cabinet has approved a bill imposing stricter penalties for airport perimeter breaches, potentially resulting in up to two years in prison for those who intentionally enter restricted areas or endanger aviation, replacing the current fine-based penalties.