Airport

Protesters chained to private jets at EBACE force Geneva Airport to close

At Geneva Airport, where private planes are on display as part of the largest private jet expo in Europe, the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE), dozens of climate activists participated in the protest action.

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In order to prevent potential buyers from approaching the exhibition space and the aircraft gangways where the jets are being shown, activists have peacefully occupied the planes. They have also shackled themselves to those locations. Private jets “burn our future,” “kill our planet,” and “fuel inequality,” according to the protesters, who marked the aircraft with enormous tobacco-style health warning labels designating them as dangerous items.

BREAKING ‼️
In Geneva 100 climate activists supporting @StayGroundedNet, @ScientistRebel1, @ExtinctionR, and @Greenpeace, are interrupting the biggest private jet sales event in Europe #Ebace2023.
Follow us for live updates throughout this action!#BanPrivateJets
🧵 1/ pic.twitter.com/NRrFV33V8N
— Stay Grounded Network (@StayGroundedNet) May 23, 2023

The loudspeakers carried by the activists were used to broadcast ads that highlighted the devastating effects that private jets have on the environment and demonstrated the hypocrisy of supporting private jets while social inequality is on the rise.

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The main entrance to the business aviation presentation, which is taking place at the Palexpo exhibition facility near the Geneva Airport, was blocked by them. Police in Geneva acted promptly to remove the activists, some of whom were attached to private aircraft. 80 individuals were detained.

Geneva airport is closed until 1345 due to climate activists on the runway. Today is the first public day of Ebace 2023 pic.twitter.com/MA2Xrc2tF6
— dpts.org (@followdpts) May 23, 2023

The normal operations of Geneva Airport were noted in a social media post that: “Due to an incursion of people on the tarmac, air traffic is temporarily interrupted at Geneva Airport.”
Later, the airport verified that regular service had resumed.

Airport

Three Major UK Airports Up for Multi-Billion Pound Sale

Three major UK airports, including London City, Birmingham, and Bristol, are set to be sold in a multi-billion pound deal as their Canadian owner, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), seeks to capitalize on a booming air travel market.

The OTPP is in talks with minority shareholders about selling its stakes in these airports, as well as its holdings in Brussels and Copenhagen airports.

Current evaluations suggest the combined value of the five airports exceeds £10 billion, with OTPP owning between 25% and 70% stakes in each, potentially bringing the total sale to over £3.5 billion.

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The move comes as global aviation experiences a strong recovery, driving increased demand for air travel, particularly across Europe. The OTPP, which holds a significant portion of its portfolio in these airports, is in the process of offering its shares to co-investors with a 30-day “right of first refusal” period.

Analysts speculate that the sale could trigger a chain reaction, prompting other stakeholders to consider selling their shares, particularly if a new buyer seeks a controlling interest.

Bristol Airport, for example, has outlined an ambitious master plan to expand its capacity from 12 million passengers per year to 15 million by 2036, addressing the growing demand in the region.

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Meanwhile, London’s Heathrow and Stansted airports have seen record passenger traffic, further underscoring the sector’s recovery.

As the 30-day period progresses, the OTPP’s decision could spark a flurry of activity, with other investors such as Australian giant Macquarie reportedly showing interest in the airports.

This potential sale is set to reshape the future of UK airport ownership and investment, as the aviation industry continues to recover and grow.