Thousands of summer holidays could be disrupted as Just Stop Oil activists plot airport protests
23.04.2024 - 08:02
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Thousands of summer holidays could be disrupted as Just Stop Oil activists plan a series of protests at airports across the UK and Europe.
The environmental group is planning to disrupt operations at various airports starting from mid-June, potentially impacting the getaway plans of countless travellers.
Protesters are set to halt flights by invading terminal buildings, glueing themselves to runways, and scaling aircraft in popular destinations such as Spain, Greece, and Turkey. The anticipated action could see delays for passengers, while those lucky enough to take off could be forced to wait hours on the runway on the other side.
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However, MPs and travel experts have accused the group of "shooting itself in the foot" by causing misery and risking lives, the Mirror reports. An undercover reporter for the newspaper learned of the plot at a meeting attended by some 50 activists. Just Stop Oil's so-called poster girl, Phoebe Plummer, was greeted by roars as she announced "disruption on a scale that has never been seen before".
She added: "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."
Plummer has been arrested for a string of disturbances that include throwing soup at a Vincent van Gogh painting in the National Gallery. The pink-haired 22-year-old spent time in prison last year and was re-arrested a fortnight ago for breaking her bail conditions by posting a letter through the door of Labour