by Just Stop Oil has hinted at a turbulent summer at UK airports, after two protesters sprayed a pair of private jets at Stansted Airport.
“If this new government doesn’t put us on a war footing, we won’t have anywhere to fly to,” said a Just Stop Oil source. The Risingadding that the Stansted protest was a “foreshadowing” for the summer of disruption.
In March, the Daily Mail Indigo Rumbelow, co-founder of Just Stop Oil, told campaigners at a meeting in Birmingham: “We are going to take our peaceful, non-violent demonstrations to the center of the carbon economy. We will be meeting at airports across the UK.”
A protest at a UK airport – whether in the terminal, on the runway, or on the connecting transport network – could significantly disrupt holiday plans. Here’s everything you need, and how to protect yourself from losing money if your airport is targeted.
Have protesters targeted airports before?
In 2019, climate activists flew toy drones near Heathrow airport with the aim of disrupting flights and raising awareness of the climate impact of a potential third runway. Roger Hallam, co-founder of Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, and his co-defendants were banned from prison but given suspended sentences for the stunt.
In 2021, James Brown, a former Paralympic athlete, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for supergluing himself to the roof of a British Airways plane at London City airport in October 2019.
Private jets were also a target. Apart from the recent incident at Stansted Airport, in January of this year, Extinction Rebellion activists marched from Farnborough town center to Farnborough Airport to protest against the expansion plans.
Roads and motorways near airports have also been hit by protests. In 2021, Insulate Britain activists blocked a road near Manchester airport by sticking their hands on the tarmac. In July 2022, Just Stop Oil protesters scaled the bridge over the M25 near Heathrow, disrupting more than 4,000 passengers traveling to the airport.
What if my flight is canceled due to a protest?
Under UK law, regardless of the circumstances, if your flight is canceled your airline is obliged to put you on the next available flight. This is also the case if you have booked a package holiday with a tour operator.
Will I get compensation?
You will only receive compensation from your airline or package holiday provider if the fault or cancellation is at fault. A protest where flights start qualifies as “extraordinary circumstances” beyond the control of the airline or tour operator, such as extreme weather or an air traffic control strike, so you would not be entitled to compensation.
I’ve booked a package holiday – what next?
If you have booked a package holiday and your flight is canceled due to a protest, it is your tour operator’s responsibility to find alternative flights for you regardless of the reason. They will work hard to get you on your holiday, even if it means flying from a different airport, but sometimes it may be impossible to get on. If this is the case, you will be offered an alternative holiday departing shortly, alternative dates for your current booking, or a full refund.
Do I get free food and drink?
If there is an objection to your flight, your airline must offer you care and assistance. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, this means “a reasonable amount of food and drink”, often provided in voucher form, as well as accommodation and transfers if required.
If you are not given vouchers, keep receipts for any food, drink and accommodation, but be warned – your airline is unlikely to reimburse you for alcohol or a luxury hotel room when a cheaper option is available.
Can I claim on my holiday insurance?
“Protests tend to be a gray area within the travel insurance industry,” says Rebecca Kingsley of Travel Insurance Explained.
“Across most policies in the industry, there is no cover in place to cancel in the event of a protest, and there is nothing you can add to protect yourself against this. The same is true if you are delayed getting to the airport and subsequently miss your flight.
“Some policies may include a trip disruption extension, but make sure you check the terms and conditions of the policy extension and the type of disruption it covers, as objections may be excluded.”
None of the travel insurance comparison sites we checked allowed us to filter for flight disruption due to protest. The best way to make sure you’re covered is to call or email your insurance provider to ask to be added.
What if a protest prevents me from boarding the flight?
If you’re unable to board your flight due to activity in the terminal or on transport networks, and the flight takes off without you, you’re in for a rough patch. The burden is on the passenger to arrive at an airport in plenty of time. This means that neither your tour operator nor your airline is obliged to put you on the next available flight. In this case, your only option may be to book another flight and try to claim it back on travel insurance, if you have added this cover (see above). Make sure you book a return leg too. If you miss the outbound flight, your return flight will almost certainly be canceled as well.
