Environmentalists invade Geneva airport to demonstrate at the Salon des jets privés

Environmental activists managed to interrupt flights at Geneva airport for an hour, during their action, on May 23, 2023. VIA REUTERS - THOMAS WOLF/STAY GROUNDED

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Europe's largest private jet show was disrupted on Tuesday (May 23rd) by climate activists. Several dozen people invaded Geneva airport to chain themselves to the luxury planes presented on the tarmac, symbols, according to them, of the climate inaction of the richest. Traffic was interrupted for one hour. Not enough to disturb visitors to the Private Jet Show, very little receptive to the speech of the activists.

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With our correspondent in Geneva, Jérémie Lanche

The show had started as agreed, with many reminders of aviation's sustainability commitments, the reduction of aircraft consumption, the rise of green fuels. And then, shortly before noon, the theme of ecology was invited by break-in. Several dozen demonstrators supported by Greeenpeace and Extinction Rebellion entered the tarmac.

Shouts of "Climate Justice" and "No to private jets", activists rush to the aircraft to handcuff themselves. "This is a demonstration that should no longer exist in 2023, it is not possible! An hour of jet is equal to what an African consumes in CO2, it no longer makes any sense! »

The conversation with the participants at the show turns short: "Find yourself a job". That's what one man says, annoyed that jets are being pointed at when private aviation accounts for only a tiny fraction of the sector's emissions.

It all depends on how you look at the problem, says Fanny Eternod of Greenpeace Switzerland: "Jet travel is really the most polluting means of transport in the world. Per passenger per kilometre is about ten times more than commercial flights and 50 times more than trains. In addition, it concerns only a tiny part of the population. That's really why Greenpeace is calling for a ban on private jet flights.

A ban that is not about to see the light of day in Switzerland in any case. Relative to the number of inhabitants, the country is the second largest user of private jets in Europe.

► Also listen: The rise of the private jet

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• Switzerland
• Environment
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• Climate change
• Climate