Environmental activists, members of Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion, took action by entering the runway where private jets are located at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands.
Protesting greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution caused by the aviation industry, activists sat in front of the planes and prevented them from taking off. "We want to ban unnecessary short-haul flights and private jets," said Dewi Zloch, leader of Greenpeace Netherlands.
Hundreds of demonstrators carried banners reading "Restrict Aviation" and "More Trains" in and around the airport. Responding to the protest, Schiphol Airport management stated that it aims to create an emission-free airport by 2030 and supports the aviation sector's targets to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Schipol Airport is the third busiest airport in the world in terms of international passenger traffic in 2021. It is the third busiest airport in Europe in terms of passenger volume and the busiest airport in Europe in terms of aircraft movements.
Greenpeace Netherlands states that Schiphol Airport is the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the country and emits 12 billion kilograms of carbon annually.
Airport police announced that some people were detained.