Protest at London City Airport cancels Jersey flight

Tuesday 06 September 2016

Protestors closed London City Airport this morning after Black Lives Matter campaigners stormed the runway.

Nine protestors locked themselves together on the airport runway with police called to the scene at 05:40.

The Black Lives Matter UK movement has confirmed it is responsible for the protest.

The airport said inbound flights were being diverted and it hoped to "resume operations as soon as possible," but the protest caused the cancellation of a Blue Islands service to/from Jersey. 

Rob Veron, Blue Islands’ Managing Director said: “Protestors have forced the closure of London City Airport this morning affecting all flights in and out of the airport. This has resulted in Blue Islands cancelling its 07:35 departure from Jersey to London City.

“Passengers have been offered alternative Blue Islands operated flights from Jersey to Southampton, re-book onto this evening’s services or a refund. We are working closely with our colleagues at London City Airport and expect this to be resolved promptly in order that we can operate our evening London City service as usual.”

Black Lives Matter UK initially announced the protest through a series of tweets and later issued a statement, saying: "Whilst at London City Airport a small elite is able to fly, in 2016 alone 3,176 migrants are known to have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean.

"Black people are the first to die, not the first to fly, in this racist climate crisis.

"We note, however, that the UK is willing to charter special flights to remove black people from the country based on their immigration status."

It added: "This action was taken in order to highlight the UK's environmental impact on the lives of black people locally and globally.

"As the largest per capita contributor to global temperature change, and yet among the least vulnerable to its deadly effects, the UK leads in ensuring that our climate crisis is a racist crisis."

Black Lives Matter was set up as an international movement following the murder of black teenager Trayvon Martin in America four years ago.

City Airport is popular with bankers and business professionals due to its proximity to Canary Wharf in London Docklands. Last year, a record 4.3 million passengers used the airport, which provides regular daily flights to Jersey from the capital.