Ten members of the climate activist group Last Generation have been ordered by the Hamburg Regional Court to pay Lufthansa €400,000 in damages for blocking air traffic at Hamburg Airport in July 2023. The court also ruled that the activists must cover €700,000 in legal costs, bringing their total liability to €1.1 million.
The blockade disrupted dozens of flights and affected 8,500 passengers across Lufthansa and its affiliates, including Eurowings, Swiss and Austrian Airlines. The court found that the activists acted “deliberately and unlawfully” in interfering with Lufthansa’s operations.
If the defendants fail to pay, they could face up to two years in prison and any repeat offense carries a €200,000 fine. The ruling is not yet final and may be appealed.
This case may set a precedent, as the Last Generation group has previously blocked roads, bridges and other airports in Germany, causing widespread travel disruption.
