On Saturday, 8 March, nearly 40 climate activists from Extinction Rebellion were arrested at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport after protesting against KLM’s Flying Blue programme. While the demonstration had been permitted, the activists moved into a restricted zone, leading to police intervention.
The protest, initially approved to take place at Jan Dellaertplein, escalated when activists moved into Terminal 2, where demonstrations are prohibited. The Koninklijke Marechaussee, the Dutch military police, responded by detaining 38 protesters.
KLM’s operational director, Maarten Stienen, strongly criticised the activists’ actions, stating: “Demonstration is a right, but breaking the rules is not. This must stop. We expect the Public Prosecution Service to identify those causing disruptions and take appropriate action.”
Protest against KLM’s frequent flyer programme
The activists were protesting against KLM’s Flying Blue programme, a frequent flyer scheme that rewards passengers with points for flights, allowing them to claim discounts, upgrades, and other benefits. According to Extinction Rebellion, such schemes encourage excessive flying and significantly contribute to global warming.
A statement from Extinction Rebellion read: “Science is clear: continuing to fly excessively will cause the Earth’s temperature to rise well above 2 degrees. Frequent flyer programmes, like KLM’s Flying Blue, reward excessive flying and are therefore a symbol of an industry that refuses to confront the climate crisis.”
Een zaterdag in maart, 17 graden, strakblauwe lucht.
— Sjonnie Konnerie (@sjonniekonnerie) March 8, 2025
Het seizoen is weer begonnen.
De terroristen van #ExtinctionRebellion komen uit hun holen.
Vandaag: mensen treiteren op #Schiphol.
Loopbanden stilzetten. En toegang blokkeren.
Kleuters. pic.twitter.com/E9iVcW6U8H
International Women’s day connection
Activists deliberately chose 8 March, International Women’s Day, for their protest, highlighting the disproportionate impact of climate change on women.
“Women are 14 times more likely to die due to the climate crisis and represent four out of five climate refugees,” Extinction Rebellion stated. “This is because women often do not receive timely information about natural disasters such as floods, and when facing drought, they must travel further to gather water, exposing them to a greater risk of (sexual) violence.”
Chronology of recent climate protests at European airports
This is not the first climate-related protest at major European airports.
- November 2022 – Activists from Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion protested against private jet usage at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
- December 2022 – Members of Letzte Generation glued themselves to the runways in Berlin and Munich to protest against aviation subsidies over public transport.
- 2023 – Extinction Rebellion and Scientists Rebellion blocked the private jet terminal at Brussels Airport.
- May 2023 – During Europe’s largest private jet sales fair, the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, climate activists from Greenpeace, Stay Grounded, Extinction Rebellion, and other climate groups blocked access to several exhibited jets.
- 2024 – Climate activists under the Oil Kills umbrella coordinated protests that disrupted multiple European airports for several hours. In Germany, Letzte Generation glued themselves to the tarmac at Cologne-Bonn Airport.
As climate activism targeting aviation continues to grow, airlines and governments face increasing pressure to curb emissions, regulate private flights, and reconsider frequent flyer incentives. The arrests at Schiphol signal ongoing tensions between environmental groups and the aviation industry, with future protests likely to follow.
