Over 100 flights cancelled after protesters glue themselves to runway at Frankfurt Airport

The airport warned of further delays to passengers and more potential cancellations. Eight people have reportedly been taken into police custody over the demonstration.

Thursday 25 July 2024 13:49, UK

Image: Emergency services gather round a protester glued to tarmac at Frankfurt Airport. Pic: AP
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Around 140 flights at Germany's busiest airport have been cancelled after climate protesters glued themselves to the tarmac.

Activist group Last Generation said six protesters headed towards the runway at Frankfurt Airport wearing fluorescent orange vests and carrying signs that read "Oil kills", after cutting a hole in the perimeter fence.

Their presence triggered a response from police, firefighters and airport security officers, apparently resulting in arrests.

Eight people are currently in police custody, according to Last Generation.

All runways were operational again by 7.50am local time (6.50am UK time) but the airport warned passengers that further delays and cancellations are expected later today.

Police officers take a look at a hole in a fence near a runway at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, July 25, 2024. Climate activists left their equipment back after cutting the hole and glued themselves to the ground blocking air traffic for several hours. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Image: Protesters cut holes in the fence to enter the premises. Pic: AP

It said it "sharply condemns" the protest and "reserves the right to take legal action" adding that the protesters' actions "pose severe danger... putting human life at risk".

It is the second time this week that protesters from Last Generation caused disruption at German airports.

Pic:AP
Image: Around 140 flights were cancelled on Thursday morning. Pic: AP

On Wednesday, five protesters glued themselves to a taxiway at Cologne-Bonn Airport, which caused flights to be halted for three hours and 31 cancelled.

Similar scenes were seen in the UK on Wednesday after nine members of Just Stop Oil were arrested outside Heathrow Airport in west London on suspicion of conspiracy to disrupt airport operations.

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Wednesday: Just Stop Oil activists arrested at Heathrow

Protests also took place in Finland, Norway, Spain and Switzerland as environmental activist groups said they plan to target airports around Europe this summer, demanding that governments around the world end the extraction and burning of fossil fuels by 2030.

The protests in Germany coincide with the government's decision last week to approve new legislation, which would see tougher penalties imposed on airport trespassers.

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Tools lay on the ground after activists of the "Letzte Generation" (Last Generation) cut a hole in a fence and staged a demonstration near the runways at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany July 25, 2024. REUTERS/Maximilian Schwarz
Image: Pic: Reuters

Though the bill is still awaiting approval, if implemented, it could see punishments such as a two-year prison sentence for those who intentionally intrude into airside areas.

Germany's home secretary Nancy Faeser, who has pushed for the new legislation, called Thursday's protest "dangerous, dumb and criminal", and said acts like it should be "punished more severely".

Currently, intruders who access airside areas are only fined, though a prison sentence of up to five years is possible in some cases.

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