Environmental activist Greta Thunberg joined a group of demonstrators to protest against Farnborough Airport's proposed expansion. The airport, located in Hampshire, has submitted plans to
increase its annual flights from 50,000 to 70,000, primarily catering to private jets, citing a need to meet business travel demand.
Protesters, organized by Extinction Rebellion Waverley and Borders, marched from Farnborough town center to the airport gates, setting off flares and accompanied by drummers. The demonstrators are advocating for a complete ban on private jets, arguing that these aircraft are up to 30 times more environmentally damaging than passenger airliners.
Expressing her concerns, Thunberg remarked, "The fact that using private jets is both legally and socially allowed today in an escalating climate emergency is completely detached from reality." She highlighted the disconnect between permitting private jet usage and the urgent climate crisis.
Todd Smith, a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion and co-founder of aviation workers group Safe Landing, voiced economic concerns and questioned the fairness of expanding the UK's largest private jet airport. Smith emphasized the societal impact, stating, "Is this a fair society that we live in, or is there one set of rules for the majority, and another for the elites?"
Local residents also expressed their dismay over the expansion plans. Sarah Hart, an office assistant from Farnborough, criticized the airport's proposal to expand when there is a growing call for a complete ban on private flying.
Farnborough Airport contends that its expansion plans would create 950 jobs in the southeast of England and contribute £220 million to the UK economy. An airport spokesperson defended the proposal, stating that Farnborough serves as an "important gateway for business aviation connectivity" and highlighted its commitment to reducing environmental impact.
However, East Hampshire District Council has raised concerns, asserting that the expansion would undermine efforts to reduce carbon emissions and increase noise pollution in the region. The controversy surrounding Farnborough Airport's expansion highlights the ongoing debate between economic development and environmental conservation. Photo by Tony Wood, Wikimedia commons.