Climate activists block private jet take-offs at Schiphol Airport

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – More than 100 environmentalists in white suits stormed an area where private jets were waiting at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport on Saturday, knocking several planes about to take off to their wheels. I stopped him by sitting in front of him.

The protest was part of demonstrations inside and outside airports organized by environmental groups Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion to protest greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution caused by airports and the aviation industry. .

As of early afternoon, no commercial flight delays have been reported.

“We want fewer flights, more trains and a ban on unnecessary short-haul flights and private jets,” said Dewi Zloch, campaign leader for Greenpeace Netherlands.

According to environmental groups, Schiphol is the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the Netherlands, emitting 12 billion kilograms per year.

In and around the airport’s main hall, hundreds of demonstrators held signs such as “air traffic restrictions” and “more trains.”

In response to the protest, Schiphol said it aims to become a zero-emissions airport by 2030 and supports the aviation industry’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

“A number of people were detained on the airport premises without permission,” the military police, which is in charge of security at the airport, said in a statement.

In June, the Dutch government announced plans to limit annual passenger numbers at the airport to 440,000, about 11% below 2019 levels, citing air pollution and climate change concerns.

Transport Minister Mark Habers told parliament last month that his office was unable to control rising private jet traffic and that the government was considering whether to include the issue in its climate policy.

Reporting by Toby Sterling Editing by Toby Chopra and Helen Popper

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