The airline Eurowings is demanding damages totaling 740,000 euros from activists of the “Last Generation” – on behalf of all Lufthansa subsidiaries. That’s what she reports Picture on Sunday. Some climate protectors have already been sent payment requests. Due to several protests in recent months, Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Berlin airports, among others, had to temporarily stop operations. Climate activists had stuck themselves there on the tarmacs or runways.
Lufthansa announced in July that it wanted to make the activists pay for it – shortly after the actions in Hamburg and Düsseldorf. Other airlines and Düsseldorf Airport had also considered this.
In Hamburg on July 13, activists invaded the airfield and stuck themselves near the runways. Air traffic was completely stopped for four hours. The Picture reported that 57 Lufthansa Group flights and 8,500 passengers were affected; Damage amounting to 400,000 euros was caused. A total of ten defendants were sent letters demanding payment. The police arrested activists during the action.
In Düsseldorf, where activists also sat on the tarmac on July 13th, there is a lot of noise Picture around 220,000 euros – 24 flights were affected. The Lufthansa Group is demanding 120,000 euros in damages for a similar action at Berlin Airport in November 2022.
Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) said Picture, he wanted to tighten the aviation security law in view of the incidents. “Blockades of airports with the aim of disrupting operations there far exceed the limits of legitimate protest. These are not trivial crimes either.” An increase in punishment should come as quickly as possible.