Climate glue – the name given to self-proclaimed “climate protectors” who want to draw attention to climate change by sticking to infrastructure or blocking traffic routes – have increasingly chosen commercial airports as the target for their protests.

This tactic not only causes significant disruption to travel, but also poses a serious security threat. In recent years, there have been numerous documented incidents in which such actions have significantly disrupted airport operations. The consequences for the perpetrators and the airports affected are significant, both financially and in terms of security.

Especially in Germany, the "climate stickers" are probably unconsciously drawing attention to significant security problems in the area of ​​securing security areas and aprons. The recent incidents in Cologne/Bonn and Frankfurt am Main show that politicians, the executive and management have not learned much so far. Not much has been achieved so far from announcements made after the unlawful intrusions in Berlin and Hamburg, for example.

An outstanding example of the danger posed by climate stickers at commercial airports is the case of November 6, 2023 at Frankfurt am Main Airport. Here, activists managed to paralyze operations for several hours by breaking into a security area and sticking them to the apron. This action led to significant delays and cancellations of flights, which caused high costs not only for passengers but also for the airlines and the airport operator. The airlines affected, such as Lufthansa and Condor, filed a lawsuit for damages after the incident, as the financial losses caused by the standstill in operations were significant.

Another incident occurred at Munich Airport when a group of climate stickers occupied the tarmac in January 2024. This action caused a delay in departures and the temporary closure of the entire international terminal area. The Munich Airport Company is also making claims for damages against the activists because airport operations were significantly disrupted.

Legal framework and alleged criminal offences

In Austria, Germany and Switzerland, the legal consequences for climate stickers that become active at airports are similar, but there are specific differences.

• Austria: Here, the behavior of climate stickers is usually covered by the Criminal Code (StGB), especially with regard to "interference with public transport" and "trespassing". Occupying airport terminals or aprons can lead to criminal charges for serious disturbance of public order. In addition, activists can be charged with property damage or even bodily harm if their actions cause physical harm.
• Germany: Similar legal frameworks can be found in Germany. The criminal offenses of "interference with public transport" according to Section 316 of the German Criminal Code and "trespassing" according to Section 123 of the German Criminal Code apply. The security forces generally have the right to take action against the activists and can arrest them if they break into security areas. Additional charges of "dangerous interference with road traffic" are also often under discussion. The legal consequences for the perpetrators are serious and can lead to significant fines or prison sentences. It should also be noted that it was recently announced that the legal situation is to be significantly tightened and that long prison sentences could be a possibility in the future.
• Switzerland: Similar legal regulations apply in the Swiss Confederation. Activists can be charged with "disturbing public transport" and "trespassing". Penalties vary depending on the severity of the crime and can include fines or imprisonment. Switzerland also has special regulations for airport security that apply in such cases.

Security problems at airports

A significant problem brought to light by the climate stickers' actions is the lack of security at airports. In Germany in particular, the incidents show that there are gaps in the security infrastructure that allow intruders to enter sensitive areas unhindered. Reports suggest that despite strict security checks at airports such as Frankfurt and Munich, the physical security of the security areas is not always sufficient to prevent such targeted actions.

This may be due in part to the enormous size of airports and the multitude of access points. While regular security audits are carried out, it appears that in some cases the access controls and surveillance systems are not sufficient to ward off all potential threats. The incidents highlight that airports may need to rethink and strengthen their security protocols to meet the new challenges posed by targeted protests.

The climate stickers pose a serious threat to the safety and operations of commercial airports. Their actions cause significant disruption, financial losses and can create potentially dangerous situations. While the legal consequences for the perpetrators are clearly defined, the incidents show that the security infrastructure at airports is in need of improvement in some cases. It is crucial that airports adapt and improve their security measures in order to be able to more effectively counter such threats in the future.