PROTESTERS have staged a demonstration outside a Scottish airport over a private jet company owned by Scotland’s largest landowner.
Extinction Rebellion Scotland protested outside Inverness Airport on Saturday over the company Blackbird Air, which is owned by Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen.
Activists could be seen waving banners which declared “Ban Private Jets” and “Blackbird Nae mAir” while others were dressed as “blackbirds”.
Campaigners aimed to highlight the “contradictions” between Holch Povlsen’s private jets enterprise and his commitment to nature through his private enterprise Wildland, which aims to "step up and take action" against the climate emergency.
They called on Holch Povlsen to close down Blackbird Air and invest in clean transportation.
Protesters in Denmark staged a sister demonstration outside Billund Airport in Denmark at the same time, with the two protests being connected via video link.
He is CEO of international retail clothing chain Bestseller and is the largest shareholder in online fashion retailer ASOS.
Campaigners said that the use of private jets has soared in recent years, with the resulting climate-heating emissions rising by 50%.
They called for a tax on aviation fuel and for further action to be taken on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Dr Sarah Birkby from Extinction Rebellion Highlands and Islands and Moray said: “It is completely contradictory to state the importance of acting on the climate emergency and at the same time run a private jet company.
“The time when people, no matter how rich, could say one thing and do the exact opposite is over.”
Alex Cochrane from Extinction Rebellion Scotland said: “Private jets are the quickest way to burn fossil fuels and produce on average 10 times more CO2 emissions per passenger than commercial flights.
“Though Blackbird Air states on their website, ‘Our private jets feature the latest safety innovations and energy-efficient engines’, the aviation industry expects worldwide another 8500 private jets will enter service by 2033 (including Blackbird), far outstripping any efficiency gains.”
A spokesperson for Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, which owns Inverness Airport, said: “Police were in attendance and there was no impact on passengers. Operations at Inverness Airport continue as normal.”
Blackbird Air has been contacted for comment.
