Climate activists block runways at German airports

By Timo Kirez

GENEVA (AA) - Climate activists blocked runways at Hamburg and Dusseldorf airports in Germany to disrupt air traffic.

The climate activists from the Last Generation group gained access to the airport tarmacs and glued themselves to the ground, public broadcaster ARD reported.

Although Air traffic has since resumed at both airports, delays are still occurring.

A spokesman for the Hamburg police confirmed to the broadcaster that one activist was taken to custody, according to the police.

As of Thursday, 17 arrivals and 19 departures were canceled in Hamburg. Ten arriving planes were diverted to other airports.

According to the airport, there may be further flight cancellations and delays throughout the day. On the first day of the vacation in Hamburg, the airport was actually expecting 50,000 passengers and 330 takeoffs and landings.

Also, at the airport in Dusseldorf, members of Last Generation glued themselves to the ground. Six to seven people were on the access route to the runway in the morning, according to the broadcaster.

"Because unauthorized persons have gained access to the airport premises, there are delays in flight operations," Dusseldorf Airport announced on Twitter early this morning.

Flight operations in Dusseldorf are running again but not according to plan.

- Criticism

German Transport Minister Volker Wissing sharply criticized the protest actions.

"These dangerous interventions in traffic must come to an end. What the 'Last Generation' is doing is not climate protection but criminality," the politician told news site t-online on Thursday.

"Whoever spoils the well-deserved and long-awaited annual vacation of others, contributes to the division of our society," Wissing continued.

Justice Minister Marco Buschmann expressed similar sentiments. "Many people are looking forward to their well-deserved vacation. If (Last Generation) takes this joy away from them, it undermines the acceptance for more climate protection," he wrote on Twitter.

The "blockers" would have to reckon with criminal consequences as well as, if necessary, also "with claims for damages worth millions", Buschmann said.

The activist group, on the other hand, wrote on Twitter early this morning: “We protest against the government's lack of plan and lawbreaking in the climate crisis."

Climate activists criticize a continuous increase in the number of air passengers and the associated emissions in the aviation sector.

The movement renewed its call for a social council to clarify how to end the use of fossil fuels by 2030.