Aberdeen Airport, March 2009
On 3 March 2009, seven protesters from Plane Stupid occupied a taxiway at Aberdeen Airport, barricading themselves within a makeshift wire enclosure while two further protesters occupied the roof of the main terminal building. Protesters wore clothes parodying those of Donald Trump and displayed a banner reading 'Plane Stupid Golf Open 2009'. One young protestor said "“The reality is that our generation’s future is vanishing so that people like Donald Trump and his super-rich friends can jet into Aberdeen for a round of golf. The expansion of this airport just cannot go ahead."
Donald Trump is a supporter of plans to expand the airport, in the wake of approval of his controversial plans for his £300 million golf course and hotel complex near the city as does BAA Aberdeen, its managing director recently said “Everyone at the airport has been supporting the golf resort development as we believe this will bring major benefits to this region and to the whole of Scotland ... Mr Trump’s proposals also come at a particularly important point in time”. BAA is planning to extend the runway and expects a growth in passengers numbers from 3.4 million (2007) to 5.9 million by 2030.
The protest also delayed various other air traffic movements. A BAA spokesman condemned the actions as "highly irresponsible". One passenger explained "We'll hopefully get a later flight, but there were people next to me due to go to Disney World and they weren't happy ... I think they are terrorists - I think they should have been hosed down".
Nine of the activists involved were released on bail from Aberdeen Sheriff Court on 4 March after being charged with breach of the peace and vandalism in connection with the protest. They were banned from going near airports.
Read more about this topic: Plane Stupid, History, Protests At UK Airports
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