United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Runway invasion causes flight cancellations at London airport
All flights at London City have been cancelled after protestors gained access to the runway at around 5.30 this morning.
Nine protestors from Black Lives Matter UK have chained themselves together on the tarmac.
The airport said inbound flights were being diverted and it hoped to ‘resume operations as soon as possible’.
Inbound flights are believed to have been diverted to Southend and Gatwick airports and there have been no outbound flights from London City since the invasion this morning.
Police said they were investigating how the group had managed to get onto the runway and were exploring suggestions they had swum across the Thames or used a boat.
Scotland Yard said officers were negotiating with the group and waiting for the arrival of ‘specialist resources’ to unlock the protestors.
Black Lives Matter UK said in a statement: "Whilst at London City Airport a small elite is able to fly, in 2016 alone 3,176 migrants are known to have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean.
"Black people are the first to die, not the first to fly, in this racist climate crisis.
"We note, however, that the UK is willing to charter special flights to remove black people from the country based on their immigration status."
It added: "This action was taken in order to highlight the UK’s environmental impact on the lives of black people locally and globally.
"As the largest per capita contributor to global temperature change, and yet among the least vulnerable to its deadly effects, the UK leads in ensuring that our climate crisis is a racist crisis."
Black Lives Matter was set up as an international movement following the murder in America four years ago of black teenager Trayvon Martin.
A London City Airport spokesperson told the BBC: "The runway is currently closed due to protesters on site.
"We apologise to passengers for any inconvenience to their journey."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Walt Leger on New Orleans’ Resilience and Major Events Ahead
Cindy Mackin Shares Estes Park’s Winter Thrills
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Report: Cruise guest died after ship lashed in heavy storm
British teen in serious condition after paraglider collision
JetBlue scraps London Gatwick flights