Environmental campaigners plan to target the UK's busiest airports over the last two weeks in July, GB News can exclusively reveal.
In a deeply alarming development, activists have confirmed they plan to target terminal buildings and airport runways.
The confirmation of these direct action tactics will be of huge concern to airport security and safety personnel, because of the obvious dangers of carrying out protests within the airport envelope or within the airside environment.
GB News has learned that Just Stop Oil will target airports including Heathrow and Gatwick at the height of the summer getaway in order to cause maximum disruption.
Eco-activists to cause holiday chaos in WEEKS with plan to target terminals and runwaysGETTY IMAGESThe activist group is also planning a series of online courses aimed at encouraging and informing volunteers on how best to carry out direct action.
Members of Just Stop Oil are now actively telephoning and emailing supporters right across the UK in an effort to co-opt as many people as possible to take part in the disruptive protest action.
One aviation source told GB News: “This will be an absolute nightmare for the aviation industry.
“The disruption caused will not just severely impact people’s holiday and travel plans but will cost airlines and airports many millions of pounds in lost revenue.
BA flights at Gatwick Airport
PA“But the most worrying aspect of this direct action is the decision by these activists to break through perimeter fences or access airside doors to move onto the airport runways.
“By their very nature, the airside environment of any busy airport is highly active and extremely dangerous with constant aircraft movements around the airfield.
“Whatever their motivation, this direct action is deeply misguided as these activists will not only be putting themselves at risk but also members of the travelling public and airport staff.”
Protesters will target runways and terminals
PAGB News understands that Just Stop Oil plans to model their protests on direct action carried out earlier this month by a sister activist group in Germany.
Last Generation blocked runways at Munich Airport for several hours causing massive disruption and the cancellation of hundreds of flights.
Law enforcement agencies across the UK, who had been aware of the potential for more direct action from activist groups, will now be actively monitoring Just Stop Oil and other protest organisations in the build-up to the holiday period.
