Protests Delay Flights at Frankfurt Airport

Frankfurt Airport, Germany's busiest air travel hub, experienced significant disruptions on Thursday morning as climate activists from the group Letzte Generation (Last Generation) breached security measures. The activists reportedly cut through a fence and glued themselves to various locations on the airfield, prompting authorities to halt all flight operations. The airport reopened at 7:50 AM local time, but not before at least 50 inbound flights were diverted to other airports, causing widespread cancellations and delays. The protest, which echoed a similar incident at Cologne-Bonn airport the previous day, was part of the group's ongoing campaign urging the German government to phase out fossil fuel usage. Activists displayed posters with the message “Oil kills,” highlighting their environmental concerns. The disruption affected numerous flights, including a Lufthansa Boeing 747 from North America, which was forced to divert to Cologne after holding in a holding pattern for an hour. As a result of the protest, flights were redirected to various cities, including Stuttgart, Dusseldorf, Munich, and even international destinations like Brussels and Vienna. The rerouting of aircraft is expected to lead to increased fuel consumption, further complicating the situation for airlines and passengers alike. Additionally, several Lufthansa flights to London Heathrow were grounded, impacting travelers with onward connections. Passengers expressed frustration over the security breach, with one individual questioning how such an incident could occur after a similar protest just a day prior. In response, the airport directed inquiries about security to the Federal Police, emphasizing the need for enhanced measures to prevent future disruptions.