Written By Lisa Murimi
On Wednesday morning, Cologne-Bonn Airport, one of Germany’s key regional airports, had to suspend all flights after climate activists glued themselves to a runway.
The incident occurred when “unauthorised people” gained access to the airfield, prompting immediate police intervention.
Several inbound flights were diverted to nearby airports before police completed their operation at 09:15 (07:15 GMT).
The airport announced the resumption of flights but warned of expected delays and cancellations throughout the day, urging passengers to check with their airlines for updates.
The activist group Last Generation claimed responsibility for the protest, stating that five members had glued themselves to the tarmac. The group demands that the German government pursue a global agreement to exit oil, gas, and coal by 2030.
They also announced plans for “similar peaceful, civil protests at airports” across Europe and North America.
In a related series of protests, activists blocked security gates at Helsinki Vantaa Airport in Finland, while in Spain, five protesters from the group Oil Kills were intercepted at Barcelona El Prat Airport.
Additionally, three activists breached the perimeter fence at Oslo’s Gardermoen Airport, where officials found an angle grinder near a hole in the fence. They were removed within 30 minutes.
Cologne-Bonn, Germany’s sixth-busiest airport, follows previous disruptions like the one in May at Munich Airport, where six climate protesters glued themselves to a runway, resulting in eight arrests, 11 diverted flights, and about 60 cancellations.
In response to such incidents, Germany’s Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, stated that security measures at Munich Airport would be reviewed.
