Just Stop Oil protests cause fuel shortage at Birmingham Airport

Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion protests forced Birmingham Airport to ask aircraft to land with enough fuel for return trips.

According to The Telegraph, the airport was at risk of its tanks running dry following protests at Kingsbury oil depot.

29 people were arrested over the weekend at the depot with the group vowing to continue blockading oil terminals until they are jailed, as they approached 1,000 arrests across the UK for their actions so far.

“Ministers have a choice: they can arrest and imprison Just Stop Oil supporters or agree to no new oil and gas,” Just Stop Oil said on Tuesday morning. “While Just Stop Oil supporters have their liberty the disruption will continue.”

The activists took their first day off in 12 days on Tuesday, after beginning their campaign on 1 April. “We decided to give them a break,” a campaign spokesperson said.

Airport executives however said that flights were “largely unaffected” as airlines were asked to land with extra fuel. Supplies were sourced from other depots instead.

Nevertheless, aviation bosses held crisis talks with government officials late last week amid fears that reserves could dry up across other airports across the UK.

Andrew Holl, director of airfield operations for Birmingham Airport, said: “The protests at Kingsbury depot caused minor delivery problems but our operations were largely unaffected because we sourced fuel from other depots and some incoming aircraft were asked to come with enough fuel onboard for their return trips.”