About 100 environmental activists protested at Geneva airport, disrupting air traffic and an air show there.
"Due to a runway violation, air traffic was temporarily suspended, before gradually returning to normal at 12:40 (17:40 Hanoi time)," Geneva airport announced on Twitter today. This is the second largest airport in Switzerland, after Zurich airport.
The announcement came after about 100 environmental activists from 17 countries arrived at Geneva airport to protest the European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE), Europe's largest private aircraft fair, held there.
According to Ignace Jeannerat, a spokesman for Geneva airport, the group of activists sneaked in through the cargo area, stormed onto the tarmac around 11:30 a.m. and handcuffed themselves to the plane.
Security forces try to disperse protesters at Geneva airport, Switzerland on May 23. Photo: Reuters
In a joint statement, activist groups Greenpeace, Stay Grounded, Scientist Rebellion and Extinction Rebellion said they had taken control of the planes at EBACE peacefully.
More than 10 police officers quickly intervened to disperse the protesters, according to the ATS news agency. Geneva police spokeswoman Tiffany Cudre-Mauroux said about 80 people were arrested.
Seven planes were unable to land during the closure and were diverted to Zurich and Lyon, Jeannerat added. More flights could be delayed or canceled today. Geneva Airport will file a lawsuit against the activist groups.
Environmentalists have long focused on the emissions of private aircraft, with estimates suggesting that worldwide private flying has nearly doubled in the past two decades. The private aviation industry says it is doing everything it can to increase the use of sustainable fuels, which are less carbon-polluting than traditional fuels, and to innovate to make flights more efficient.
Nhu Tam (According to AFP, Reuters )
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