London City Airport braces for Extinction Rebellion shutdown

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London City Airport
British Airways airplanes are seen on the runway with the towers and buildings of the Canary Wharf financial district in background before taking off at London City Airport in London on October 27, 2017. British Airways parent group IAG forecast on October 27 a 20-percent jump in operating profit this year thanks to rising demand and falling costs. Operating profit before exceptional items, and at current fuel prices and exchange rates, was forecast to hit 3.0 billion euros ($2.7 billion) in 2017, IAG said in an statement. That was up from 2.5 billion euros in 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)

Extra police officers will be sent to London City Airport this week to counter an Extinction Rebellion attempt to shut it down.

The activist group has revealed it plans to shut down the airport for three days beginning on Thursday.

Read more: Extinction Rebellion offshoot occupies Smithfield meat market

The shutdown is slated to start at 9am with activists blocking security by occupying the departure and arrival lounge.

Members of the group have been told to buy plane tickets departing from the airport to slip past potential police checks.

An airport spokesman said the airport was making preparations to deal with the threat.

“We are working with the Metropolitan Police to ensure the safety and security of our passengers, as well as minimising any disruption to their journeys,” he said.

“We urge protesters to think twice about preventing hardworking people from travelling, be that families going on holiday from their local airport, tourists visiting London, or small businesses that rely on convenient connections.

“London City Airport has already reduced emissions by 30% over five years and we are committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, as well as working with partners on initiatives that will significantly reduce overall emissions related to aviation.”

Extinction Rebellion’s activities have already led to more than 300 arrests within the first two days of its planned two weeks of action.

Earlier today an Extinction Rebellion offshoot, named Animal Rebellion, occupied London’s Smithfield meat market and set up fruit and vegetable stalls.

Other activists glued themselves to the Department of Transport building.

Read more: Prime Minister Boris Johnson denounces Extinction Rebellion

The group is protesting to demand more action on climate change from the UK government.

It is demanding the government declares a “climate emergency”, pledges to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2025 and creates citizens assemblies to work on climate change solutions.