Just Stop Oil are planning a series of protests at airports across the UK and Europe which threaten to cause travel chaos for holidaymakers this summer.
Protesters plan in some cases to glue themselves to runways in the UK and other destinations including Spain, Greece and Turkey.
Hundreds of flights could be delayed by hours or even cancelled as part of the plot by 50 activists, according to the Mirror.
Just Stop Oil’s Phoebe Plummer reportedly warned of “disruption on a scale that has never been seen before” at a meeting attended by an undercover journalist. The group has been critical of the airline industry over its carbon footprint.
She said: “The most exciting part of this plan is that [it’s] going to be part of an international effort. Flights operate on such a tight schedule to control air traffic that with action being caused in cities all around the world we’re talking about radical, unignorable disruption.”
She added: “It’s time to wake up and get real – no summer holiday is more important than food security, housing and the lives of your loved ones. Flying is also a symbol of the gross wealth inequality that’s plaguing our society and if we want to create change we need to adopt a more radical demand.”
Just Stop Oil is planning an alliance with Europe-based A22 Network to cause disruption at major international airports.
Clive Wratten, of the Business Travel Association, said: “These planned protests are a blunt instrument that will alienate the people who can bring the change Just Stop Oil wants. The activists should work with British businesses to create meaningful solutions to our climate crisis.
“They should join airlines and their supply industry in bringing forward sustainable fuels and best practices, and we urge protesters to reconsider chaos bringing progress to a standstill.”
Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “Selfish, disruptive protesters who wreak havoc in people’s everyday lives must be stopped. We have given the police more powers to tackle criminals posing as protesters and are backing officers with the tools they need to prevent serious disruption and disorder. More than 600 protesters were arrested during Just Stop Oil’s latest campaign.”
Conservative MP Gary Johnson told the Mirror: “The actions of Just Stop Oil are counterproductive and put people off their cause. Most people want to see the environment protected but militant, highly disruptive protests just anger those who are often just trying to enjoy a family holiday.”
However a Just Stop Oil spokesman said UK government policy on climate change meant the group’s actions were justified.
They said: “In normal circumstances, the sort of activities you’ve outlined would be unacceptable. However, what is more unacceptable is the last 10 straight months of record-breaking temperatures, governments continue to allow more oil and gas drilling. The situation is an emergency and we have to start acting like it.”
More than half of British people plan to travel abroad this summer and three in five have already booked, according to Post Office Travel Money.
Just Stop Oil was founded in 2022 to try to cease the issuing of all new oil, gas and coal licences in the UK.
It has staged dozens of high profile protests, many involving disrupting London traffic.
It has also targeted an Ashes Test match at Lords and members ran on stage during a performance of Les Miserables in the West End.
