Two German airports, Hamburg and Dusseldorf, faced travel disruptions on Thursday, July 13th, 2023, as climate activists staged protests on the runways and access roads, demanding more action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The protests coincided with the start of the school holidays in some regions of Germany, affecting thousands of passengers during the peak summer travel season.
Hamburg Airport halts all traffic
Hamburg airport, the fifth-busiest airport in Germany, said it had halted all traffic around 6 a.m. local time, after nine unauthorized people entered an area near the airfield, with eight of them gluing themselves to the ground. The protesters belonged to a group called Last Generation, which is known for its disruptive actions to draw attention to the climate crisis. The federal police said they were trying to remove the protesters, who posted videos on Twitter of themselves sitting on the asphalt with banners reading "Stop flying" and "Climate justice now". Hamburg airport said around a dozen flights had been canceled on Thursday, and that further cancellations and diversions could not be ruled out.
Dusseldorf Airport partially resumes operations
Dusseldorf airport, the third-busiest airport in Germany, also reported delays due to seven unauthorized individuals on the premises, who also glued themselves to the runway. The regional police said they managed to unstick three of them quickly, while four others were about to be removed. The airport said it had partially resumed operations by 8 a.m. local time, but advised passengers to check the status of their flights before traveling. The protesters at Dusseldorf airport also identified themselves as members of the Last Generation, and held signs saying "Flying kills" and "We are the last generation that can save the climate".
A wave of civil disobedience
Last Generation is a protest group that has been staging frequent acts of civil disobedience in Germany since 2020, blocking roads and airports with their bodies and glue. The group says it is inspired by Extinction Rebellion, a global movement that uses non-violent direct action to pressure governments to act on the climate emergency. The group says it wants Germany to declare a climate emergency, reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025, and establish a citizens' assembly to oversee the transition to a low-carbon economy. The group also criticizes the aviation industry for its high carbon footprint and its resistance to change. In May 2023, German prosecutors raided the homes of several members of Last Generation on suspicion of forming or supporting a criminal organization. The group denounced the raids as an attempt to intimidate and silence them.