According to Munich Airport, one of the airport’s two runways was temporarily closed on Thursday morning because of a climate protest. According to a spokesman for the airport, activists had taped themselves to the runway in the northern part of the airport just before 10 a.m.
The “Last Generation” group claimed responsibility for the campaign. However, the airport spokesman denied that air traffic in Munich, as claimed by the “last generation”, had “come to a standstill”. There was “no major disruption”. Live data showed that both runways were quickly back in service; there were only a few minor delays.
The police went on a large-scale operation. According to the airport, the activists also tried to get onto the site on the south side of the airport, but were prevented from doing so. The police were informed shortly before entering the airport area, said the “Last Generation”.
“Last Generation” is committed to the campaign
In their letter, the climate activists emphasized: “We are always ready for constructive talks, just like yesterday with the Bavarian Minister of the Interior (Joachim Herrmann). But what we need in view of the impending climate hell are actions and not just empty words,” said the spokeswoman Aimee van Baalen.
The group, which most recently blocked roads in Munich and Berlin, demands better climate protection from the federal government and demands, among other things, a speed limit of 100 kilometers per hour on motorways and a nine-euro train ticket for the whole of Germany.
At the end of November, the group paralyzed the Berlin capital’s BER airport for almost two hours. At that time, two groups, each consisting of several people, gained access to the airport premises. According to the police, some of them had glued themselves to the ground; the group itself said that activists rode bicycles across the site. At that time, Berlin Airport had stopped operations on both runways.
According to the “Last Generation”, activists also tried to disrupt operations in Berlin on Thursday. However, that was not successful, according to those responsible for the airport: “Flight operations are currently not restricted.” A spokeswoman for the Federal Police Headquarters in Berlin said that some people had gained access to the security area, but were then intercepted by security guards or police officers. The operation was still ongoing in the morning.
The “Last Generation” said members had invaded the site and were on the airport tarmac. A dpa photographer reported that a group of climate protectors cut a hole in a fence, but were then intercepted by security guards or police officers. According to the observations, flight operations continued.