- Airport association: Disruption is 'criminal blackmail'
The Airport Association ADV is calling for a tough response following the recent actions of the "Last Generation" group at several German airports. "This is a coordinated act of criminal extortion," said ADV CEO Ralph Beisel. "This is not peaceful protest, and it's not about supposedly higher goals. These are malicious disruptions to air traffic and the personal rights of every traveler who cannot board their flight on time."
ADV: Tighten air security law "immediately"
Beisel described the actions as "crimes" that must be "consistently punished" by the justice system. He called for the German cabinet's decision to tighten the air security law to be "immediately" passed by the Bundestag. The German government aims to deter radical climate activists and other disruptors with the planned reform.
The core of the reform is a new provision that makes it a crime to deliberately and unjustifiably enter restricted areas such as runways and taxiways, if it endangers civil aviation safety.
Last week, ADV offered the climate activists a dialogue. In an open letter, it stated: "It is undeniable that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Criminal blockades of airports do not contribute to a solution." The "Last Generation" group accepted the offer on Twitter.
The Commission has endorsed Beisel's call for the immediate passage of the German government's decision to tighten the air security law. The Commission has stressed the importance of consistently enforcing penalties for crimes that disrupt air traffic and infringe on travelers' rights.
