Cologne Airport forced to halt flights as climate activists target runways across Europe

Germany’s sixth busiest airport faced flight disruption on 24 July, after climate activist protesters glued themselves to a runway. Cologne-Bonn Airport after said “unauthorised people” had gained access to the airfield, leading to all flight operations being suspended and several inbound flights diverted. Later reports said police had cleared the runway and flights were resuming, although further cancellations were likely and passengers are urged to check with their airline for updates. The German climate group Last Generation said five people had glued themselves to the tarmac. They added that other protests at airports were planned across Europe and North America. In Finland, protesters blocked security gates at Helsinki Vantaa Airport and protesters were reportedly intercepted at Barcelona El Prat airport. Three activists broke the perimeter fence at Oslo’s main Gardermoen Airport on the morning of 24 July also. In May, Munich Airport was forced to shut for two hours after climate protesters glued themselves to a runway, prompting Germany’s interior minister, Nancy Faeser to order a review of security measures at Munich Airport. The German Cabinet also this month approved legislation that would impose tougher penalties on people who break through airport perimeters. The bill, if passed, could dish out punishments of up to two years in prison sentence for people who intentionally intrude on airside areas of airports, endanger civil aviation, or enable someone else to. To date, fines are the only punishment for these offences. And, in London, it was reported in the afternoon of 24 July that nine Just Stop Oil activists had been arrested at Heathrow Airport. The Metropolitan Police said: “These arrests have prevented significant disruption to the airport and the travelling public.” Photo of protester in Cologne airport posted on Last Generation X account.