Extinction Rebellion and other climate change activists mounted a protest at Maastricht-Aachen Airport in Beek, a town in the Netherlands, on March 9. The groups sought to highlight the uptick in private jet traffic arriving there for the annual TEFAF air fair.
According to a European security consultant speaking to AIN on condition of anonymity, intelligence provided by his company to local authorities was instrumental in preventing violations of airport security and possible damage to aircraft. Local police imposed emergency orders banning gatherings near the airport, which Extinction Rebellion said received 200 private aircraft for the TEFAF event.
Protestors marched on the air fair carrying signs calling for a complete ban on private aviation in scenes that mirrored protests across Europe last year. Security experts said that more demonstrations are expected at Dutch airports, including Groningen and Eindhoven, in the coming weeks.
Holding its annual conference in London last week, the British Business and General Aviation Association felt the need to not disclose the exact venue out of concern over attracting environmental protestors. The previous year’s conference was disrupted by demonstrators who breached security at the venue.