Hundreds of environmental activists, some of them dressed in white overalls, stormed the private jet zone at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport – the Netherlands’ largest airport – on Saturday and sat in front of their wheels for hours to prevent planes from taking off, Reuters writes.

The military police intervened and put dozens of protesters on buses. More than 100 activists were arrested, according to the national TV channel NOS.

The protest was part of demonstrations organized by Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion in and around the airfield ahead of the start of the COP27 climate conference in Egypt.

No commercial flight delays were reported.

“We want fewer flights, more trains and a ban on unnecessary short-haul flights and private jets,” said Greenpeace Netherlands campaign manager Davy Zloch.

The environmental organization says Schiphol is the biggest emitter of carbon dioxide in the Netherlands, with 12 billion kilograms a year.

In response to the protest, Schiphol said it aims to become a zero-emissions airport by 2030 and supports the aviation industry’s goal of achieving zero emissions by 2050.

Transport Minister Mark Harbers told parliament last month that his office could not control the growth of private jet traffic and the government was considering including the issue in its climate policy. (Source: Agerpres)