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By Aayushi Sharma
On Thursday, climate activists from the group Letzte Generation (Last Generation) briefly brought air traffic to a halt at four major airports in Germany, demanding an end to the use of fossil fuels. The activists glued themselves to the tarmac at Cologne Bonn, Nuremberg, Berlin, and Stuttgart airports, unfurling banners with the message “Oil kills.”
The group, pushing for a global agreement to phase out oil, gas, and coal by 2030, targeted the airports’ taxiways, rather than the main runways. This caused a temporary flight disruption, particularly at Nuremberg and Cologne Bonn, where air operations were delayed for about two hours as police intervened. Two activists at each of these airports had attached themselves to the ground.
At Berlin and Stuttgart, the protest was swiftly managed by authorities, with four activists being removed quickly and air traffic remaining largely unaffected. All eight activists involved in the protests were arrested.
Here’s the X (Twitter) post:
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser condemned the protests, labeling them as “dangerous and stupid.” She warned that such actions not only endanger the lives of the protesters but also pose risks to others. Faeser highlighted new legislation, recently approved by the German cabinet, which would impose stricter penalties on those who breach airport perimeters. The proposed law, still pending approval, could see offenders facing up to two years in prison, as opposed to the current penalty of a fine.
Faeser mentioned the federal government’s plan to strengthen the Aviation Security Act. She stated that the key aspect of the proposed reform is the introduction of a new regulation that makes it a criminal offense to intentionally and unlawfully enter the runway or taxiway if it jeopardizes civil aviation safety.
Last Generation has become notorious for its high-profile protests. The group has previously made headlines for actions such as throwing mashed potatoes at artworks in museums and blocking roads. In July, the group caused significant delays at Frankfurt Airport, Germany’s busiest, by gluing themselves to the tarmac during the peak summer travel season.
References:
https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/klimaprotest-flugbetrieb-ber-koeln-bonn-100.html
Banner Image Source: https://x.com/_oilkills/status/1822242574465184141/photo/2
Image Source: https://x.com/_oilkills/status/1822215637990617261/photo/1
