Action of "Last Generation" - Union will provide more protection for airports - Frankfurt Airport defends itself
Climate demonstrators disrupted the operation of Frankfurt Airport for hours during the peak tourist season, causing flight cancellations, long queues, and alarm among travelers. The blockade on Thursday morning reignited a debate about the safety of German Airports.
"We must do everything to ensure that foreigners, activists, or terrorists in general do not gain access to our airports," said Hessian Interior Minister Roman Poseck (CDU). The airport security must be reviewed.
After an action at Cologne/Bonn Airport on Wednesday, climate activists from the "Last Generation" targeted Frankfurt Airport. Several activists managed to gain access to the premises by cutting a fence wire and blocked various sections of the runways, according to the group. The activists were initially detained by officials and later handed over to the Hessian State Police.
Frankfurt Airport: "Our processes worked"
Since 07:50 am (local time), all four runways have been open again, and operations have resumed, said a spokesperson for airport operator Fraport. Fraport reported around 140 flight cancellations. The number could increase throughout the day. Delays were also expected for the rest of the day.
Members of the federal government criticized the actions of the climate activists sharply. "These actions are dangerous, stupid, and criminal," declared Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) on the platform X. "Who blocks runways risks not only their own life but also endangers others and harms all passengers." Volker Wissing, Transport Minister (FDP), expressed similar sentiments.
Fraport announced that it would take legal action against the climate activists. The incident would be investigated, said a spokesperson for Frankfurt Airport to the stern on inquiry: "The current incident is being investigated by the Federal Police. Their results we will of course take into account. But our processes worked."
Union calls for tougher security measures at German Airports
Criticism comes from the Union. It is incomprehensible that it is possible to gain access to the security areas of large airports within a few minutes, said the parliamentary spokesperson for interior policy of the Union-Bundestag faction, Alexander Throm (CDU). "The protection of critical infrastructure cannot be evaluated highly enough at the moment."
Further politicians from the Union also demanded tougher action against so-called climate gluers – and stricter security measures. "We don't just need more police presence on site, but also a coordinated concept for a nationwide increase in security measures," said CDU/CSU parliamentary group vice-president Ulrich Lange to the news agency Reuters. The focus is also on the airport company Fraport. This is responsible for the outer security of the airport through the fence, emphasized Hessian Interior Minister Poseck.
The airport spokesperson told the stern: "The airport is secured with a size comparable to a small city." Thirty kilometers of fence surround the area, motion detectors and cameras are in use. The police and a separate security service patrol the premises. "If someone tries to force their way in, an alarm chain is triggered, and the authorities are quickly on site."
Faeser announces harsher penalties
Faeser announced harsher penalties for such actions. "Whoever blocks runways or endangers the safety of air traffic must expect severe consequences," she said on the platform X. "The rule of law must be upheld, and those who violate it must be held accountable." The federal government would take all necessary measures to ensure the security of airports and the rule of law.
In Aber: "Where there is a will, there is a way, and unfortunately, a fence is not completely insurmountable – even if there are no gaps in our fence." Therefore, secondary measures such as the use of police and airport security are all the more important. These would react quickly in such cases. "The entire security architecture must be consistent. Not only the fence, but also the coordination with authorities plays a major role. The legally required security measures are upheld by Frankfurt Airport."
CDU politician Throm expects Minister Faeser to make security a top priority, take concrete action, and back it up with budget funds. "The airport operators must be held accountable," he added.
Faeser announced harsher penalties for such blockades. "We have proposed sensitive penalties," emphasized the Minister, looking at the planned tightening of the Aviation Security Law.
The Federal Cabinet had already initiated the tightening in the previous week, but it is not yet passed and therefore does not apply to the current incidents. Accordingly, intrusion into the runway area and the start and landing strips will be punishable with up to two years in prison or a fine in the future. Until now, only a fine had been provided for.
The Airports Association ADV supported the government's plans. The legal loopholes in pursuing intruders must be closed. Fraport also welcomed the plans: "We support the planned tightening of the Aviation Security Law. This will close loopholes and strengthen penalties. It also serves as a deterrent," said the spokesperson to the stern.
The federal government also intends to force airport operators to take better protective measures through a legal ordinance. "Airports must be secured much better. This applies above all to fences, gates, cameras, sensors, and signal technology," said Faeser to the Funke Media Group newspapers.
A self-commitment failed in the case of two large airports, it was said from their ministry. Therefore, negotiations with the states over a corresponding legal ordinance have been initiated. The Police Union calls for uniform standards nationwide. Additional patrols alone cannot secure the airports.
But the Union is not satisfied with this. Federal Transport Minister Wissing referred to the cabinet resolution from the previous week on the reform of the Aviation Security Law as "smoke screens," explained the CDU/CSU parliamentary group's right-wing political spokesperson, Günter Krings, on Thursday. Because this will not lead to harsher penalties for the perpetrators.
"A review shows that the government proposal is a sham," Krings stated. "Such a penalty is inappropriately mild," criticized Krings. "A noticeably increased minimum penalty is necessary to achieve deterring penalties."
Wissing himself had referred to the fact that a higher penalty frame of up to five years had also been planned. This applies on the one hand to cases where intruders carry prohibited items such as weapons or corrosive or poisonous substances with them. On the other hand, the higher penalty can be imposed if the intention is to enable or conceal another criminal offense.
- The CDU, led by Alexander Throm in the German parliament, has called for tougher security measures at German airports, citing the ease at which activists like those from 'Last Generation' managed to gain access to Frankfurt Airport's security areas.
- Hessian Interior Minister Roman Poseck, also from the CDU, emphasized that Fraport, the operator of Frankfurt Airport, is responsible for the outer security of the airport through the fence, highlighting the importance of robust security measures at German airports.
- In response to the recent incidents at Frankfurt Airport and Cologne/Bonn Airport, Fraport, the airport operator, announced its intention to take legal action against the climate activists and strengthen its security measures, following criticism from politicians and the public.
