Flights at Cologne-Bonn Airport have been suspended due to runway blockage by climate protesters

Air travel at Cologne-Bonn Airport was brought to a standstill as a result of climate activists who attached themselves to a runway, leading to considerable disruptions and flight diversions.

Flights at Cologne-Bonn, one of Germany’s major airports, have been temporarily suspended due to a runway obstruction caused by climate activists. There was an incident at the airport on Wednesday morning, which led to a temporary suspension of all flight operations as the police intervened. Unauthorized individuals were reported to have accessed the airfield.

Four inbound flights were redirected to Düsseldorf and Hannover airports. Several outbound flights from Cologne experienced delays or cancellations.

The activist group, Last Generation, took credit for the incident, stating that five of its members firmly attached themselves to the tarmac. The group shared photos of the protest and urged the German government to advocate for a worldwide agreement to phase out oil, gas, and coal by 2030. They revealed intentions to organize comparable demonstrations at airports throughout Europe and North America.

In Finland, activists disrupted security gates at Helsinki Vantaa Airport, while in Norway, three protesters managed to breach the perimeter fence at Oslo’s Gardermoen Airport, but were swiftly removed within 30 minutes.

Cologne-Bonn Airport is the sixth busiest in Germany. In May, Munich Airport faced a shutdown due to a group of climate protesters who glued themselves to a runway. This resulted in major flight disruptions. After that incident, Germany’s Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, mentioned that there would be a review of security measures at Munich Airport.