Just Stop Oil plans summer of airport protests

A spokesman for the Airport Operators Association (AOA), the trade body for UK airports, said that Just Stop Oil’s activists had broken the law by cutting the fence to get inside Stansted Airport.

A spokesman for the climate activist group said: “We’re fully aware that a chunk of what we do is illegal, that’s kind of the point.”

The AOA continued: “Actions like this in an airport setting are dangerous and risk the safety of passengers and staff.

“Instead of engaging in disruptive, counter-productive stunts, we’d call on environmental groups to work with the industry to understand and support the hard work aviation is doing to de-carbonise its activities, from using greener energy sources for airport operations to sustainable fuels for our planes.

“This will ensure the United Kingdom retains its reputation as a welcoming, friendly, accessible place for tourists and businesses, and will support the jobs, livelihoods and holidays that we all rely on.”

Essex Police later said two women were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and interference with the use of national infrastructure after orange paint was sprayed on two planes.

Earlier this week two other Just Stop Oil activists were arrested and bailed after throwing orange powder paint over Stonehenge. 

The group later claimed the paint would wash off in the rain but English Heritage expressed concern about potential damage to the 5,000-year-old monument as well as to rare lichens that grow on the stones.

JK Rowling, the Harry Potter author, later mocked the group on social media, posting: “Public opinion’s definitely moving, mostly towards the conclusion that you’re funded by Big Oil.”