Climate activists chain themselves to airplanes

With their action, they paralyzed air traffic for about an hour around noon. Numerous police officers intervened to evict the activists, as a photographer from the Keystone-SDA news agency noted on site.

Some of the climate activists had chained themselves to planes on display at the ongoing private jet sales fair at the Palexpo site next to the airport. The police arrested around 80 people, a police spokeswoman said. The activists said they did not want to disrupt commercial air traffic at Geneva Airport. For safety reasons, however, air traffic was interrupted for an hour from 11.40 a.m., as explained by an airport spokesman and a Skyguide spokeswoman.

Private Jet Show in Geneva

Private jets are currently being exhibited in Geneva as part of the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition. It is the largest sales fair for private jets in Europe.

The activists, who come from 17 countries, supported organizations such as Greenpeace, Stay Grounded, Extinction Rebellion, Scientist Rebellion and other climate organizations with their protest, Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion said. The climate protectors call for a ban on private jets. Activists also blocked the main entrance to the business jet fair held in the Palexpo halls.

Warnings like on cigarette packs

The activists stuck “warnings” on the jets, like those found on cigarette packs, such as “private jets are destroying our planet,” “burning our future,” or “feeding inequality.” The activists also pointed out that Amsterdam Schiphol Airport will ban private jets from 2025, while there is heavy private jet traffic in Geneva.

According to Greenpeace, private flights cause around ten times more greenhouse gas emissions per passenger-kilometer than commercial flights. Added to this is pollution from microparticles and noise. However, private jets are exempt from key European regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.