Activists Pressure KLM to Cancel Short Flights Amid Climate Crisis

Activists from the environmental organization Greenpeace took direct action against KLM at Schiphol Airport, expressing their discontent with the airline’s contribution to environmental pollution.

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According to Luchtvaartnieuws, the activists hung a large banner on an advertising column with the message «KLM, you’re flying beyond all climate limits», reported the associated outlet Aeroin.

Pressure on KLM

This act is part of an ongoing Greenpeace campaign to pressure KLM into reducing its short-haul operations within Europe, claiming that the company is the biggest polluter in the Dutch aviation industry.

Greenpeace campaign leader Maarten de Zeeuw harshly criticized KLM for, in his view, failing to adequately take responsibility for combating the climate crisis.

“KLM is on a collision course with the climate and, amidst the climate crisis, seeks to intensify its flight operations and pollution. Despite promoting narratives about sustainable fuels and greener aircraft, the truth is that flying less is the only way to significantly reduce pollution,” stated De Zeeuw.

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Cancel short flights

Greenpeace is pressuring KLM to cancel short flights, such as those to Brussels, Paris, and London, arguing that these routes are unnecessary and can easily be replaced by train travel, which has a significantly lower environmental impact.

The organization accused KLM of resisting the necessary process of reducing operations at Schiphol Airport, which is crucial for addressing the climate crisis. This action takes place in the context of broader debates on the need to scale back operations at Schiphol.

Recently, Transport Minister Barry Madlener announced plans to limit the number of flights at Schiphol to a maximum of 478,000 flights per year. However, Greenpeace argues that this target is still too high and calls for stricter measures.