Airports across Europe were blocked for several hours this morning by climate activists of different groups, coordinated under the Oil Kills umbrella. Members of seven different groups blocked runways or airport entrances in six different countries across the continent, from Norway to Spain, calling for an international Fossil Fuel Treaty to stop any use of oil, gas and coal by 2030.
“This morning’s actions come after world temperature records were shattered on Sunday on what may be the hottest day scientists have ever recorded, according to preliminary data”, Oil Kills explained in a press release. “Even so-called climate leaders have continued to approve new coal, oil and gas projects pushing the world closer to global catastrophe and condemning hundreds of millions to death.”
In Germany, supporters of Letzte Generation (Last Generation) cut through the chain-link fence at Cologne-Bonn airport (CGN) early in the morning and glued themselves to the tarmac. Air traffic was brought to a standstill for over 3 hours and flights were delayed as police tried to remove them. The activists were finally removed from the premises and air traffic resumed around 9:30am.
In Norway, three supporters of Folk Mot Fossilmakta (People against Fossil Power) had a similar modus operandi, but, in the absence of glue, were removed from the runway at Oslo Gardermoen (OSL) airport much quicker.
In Finland, nine supporters of XR Finland blocked security control at the Helsinki-Vantaa airport (HEL), but were moved to the front of the airport by police, where they stayed for about 2 hours with banners reading “Oil Kills” and “Fossil Fuels are Killing Us”.
In Switzerland, eleven supporters of Drop Fossil Subsidies and “Act now” – Liberate Switzerland blocked roads heading to Zurich and Geneva airports. Passengers were disrupted entering arrival and departure areas as well as multiple parking garages. Five people were arrested.
This morning is just the start. Governments and fossil fuel producers are waging war on humanity.
Oil Kills
In Spain, five supporters of Futuro Vegetal (Vegetal Future) entered the airfield at the Barcelona airport, with the intention of glueing themselves to the tarmac close to the runway, but were intercepted before being able to do so. They were wearing banners with slogans “Oil Kills – Meat as well”. One of them has been arrested and taken to court while the others have been fined for attempting to disrupt airport traffic. They are demanding an end to fossil fuels and a shift to plant based agri-food systems.
In the UK, seven Just Stop Oil supporters were arrested on the perimeter road outside Heathrow Airport.
“We need an emergency international response to save lives. As long as political leaders fail to take swift and decisive action to protect our communities from the worst effects of climate breakdown, we will remain in resistance. Our work remains essential, morally right and ever more urgent”, the groups said.
This is not the first time activists block airports through different means. In May 2023, a group blocked Geneva airport during Europe’s biggest private jet fair. A few months prior, in February, Extinction Rebellion and Scientists Rebellion blocked the entire private jet terminal at Brussels Airport. In December 2022, activists form the environmental group Letze Generation (Last Generation), glued themselves to the runways at Berlin and Munich airports to protest against aviation subsidies at the detriment of cheaper public transport and the month before members of Extinction Rebellion blocked private jets at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.
