Flights resumed after six hours of delays from demonstrators blocking the runway, compounded by IT problems at British Airways in the United Kingdom and the US.
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It was not clear how the protesters accessed the runway, which is situated next to the River Thames and surrounded by fencing.
According to police, all protestors were charged with aggravated trespass, being unlawfully airside, and breaching London City Airport bylaws.
The activists were taken to police stations in east London, BuzzFeed reported.
The UK Black Lives Matter group is claiming responsibility for the stunt.
Activists from Britain’s Black Lives Matter movement blocked the main road into London Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, last month as part of a nationwide day of protests against racism. “Black people are the first to die, not the first to fly, in this racist climate crisis”.
“Police are now on the scene”.
“We aim to resume normal operations as soon as possible”, the airport said.
All flights due to land at the airport were diverted to Southend and Gatwick airports, near London.
He said passengers were offered refunds for cancelled flights, while delayed passengers were also given refreshment vouchers. The conflation of the issues – and the suggestion that the airport was for the “elite” – prompted a number of Twitter users to comment that they were confused by the protest. It says expansion consigns the local community of Newham to environmental degradation. At the same time 40% of Newham’s population struggle to survive on £20,000 or less. “But I think they need to have sympathy for the people affected by climate change”.
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Shortly after noon the airport announced that the runway has been reopened.
