(new: details on cancellations and detour)

FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - Climate protesters have brought operations at Frankfurt Airport to a standstill for hours with a sticker campaign on the runways. Passengers had to be patient as long queues formed in the terminals. According to airport operator Fraport, around 170 of the 1,400 flights scheduled for Thursday were canceled. The number could rise further during the course of the day if the airlines cancel further flights. According to German air traffic control, flight movements are to be limited until the afternoon in order to ensure safe operations.

A total of eight activists entered the fenced-off area at around 05:00, according to the federal police. While one person got stuck on the fence, seven people were able to enter the security area in the early morning and cling to the heads of the two central runways.

Protesters detained

There they were initially detained by officers and later handed over to the Hessian state police after they had been removed from the ground. All four runways at Germany's largest airport were back in operation before 08:00.

As on Wednesday after similar actions in Koln/Bonn, London and Oslo, the "Last Generation" group claimed responsibility for the attack. "The continued demand and burning of oil, gas and coal is a threat to our existence," it said in a post on Platform X. "We have joined forces internationally: Get out of fossils by 2030!"

Last generation takes a stand

The "Last Generation" spoke of six people who had cut openings in the wire mesh fence with small pincers and then reached various points around the runways on foot, bicycles and skateboards. They displayed posters with the slogan "Oil kills".

Even after the resumption of flight operations, delays are to be expected for the rest of the day, reported the operator Fraport. Passengers are asked to check their flight status on the airlines' websites before traveling to the airport. Some flights originally scheduled for Frankfurt landed at neighboring airports such as Nuremberg or Koln-Bonn in the morning.

A very long queue formed at the Lufthansa counters in the morning. The airport also offers free water for passengers in the main hall near Terminal A.

Politicians condemn action

Hesse's Minister President Boris Rhein (CDU) sharply criticized the disruptive action: "These irresponsible and criminal climate sharks are only interested in causing as much damage as possible," said the head of government on the X platform. "And on the backs of thousands of holidaymakers who are looking forward to a few days' vacation. Anyone who jeopardizes safety in this way must be severely punished."

Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) told Bild: "Legislators must react to this with maximum severity. We have already initiated tougher penalties for such criminal activities." Last week, the cabinet approved tougher penalties for interfering with air traffic. However, the Bundestag still has to decide on this.

A Fraport spokesperson also condemned the actions. They endangered flight operations and ultimately human lives. "The perpetrators face severe penalties and high civil claims for damages." There are over 30 kilometers of fencing in Frankfurt, which are technically secured and monitored by patrols. The primary aim of the alarm chains is to ensure that no one is harmed and that any intruders can be apprehended quickly and safely./ceb/jto/DP/ngu