In December 2025, “Bündnis Klima-Solidarität” (The Climate Solidarity Alliance) called for restrictions on air traffic at Düsseldorf Airport (Germany) in an advent-themed protest. This demo was supported by the Stay Grounded action pot, here Sara Fromm explains what took place.

“Think of the children of the world,” chanted a dozen activists dressed as angels and Santa Clauses, “Frequent flyers, please don’t fly.” These chants were heard throughout the departure hall of Düsseldorf Airport on December, 21st 2025 as local activists staged a Christmas-themed action, targeting frequent flying, just before the holiday season. This protest with an advent flair was organised by the “Bündnis Klima-Solidarität” (Climate Solidarity Alliance), founded by Düsseldorf-based author, Miltiadis Oulios, and the local “Extinction Rebellion” group. Their target: the international airport serving Düsseldorf, the capital of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which is the fourth biggest airport in Germany. In 2024, around 20 million passengers took off and landed at the airport, including 8 domestic flight routes – the type of short-haul flights that could easily be replaced by train connections.

Demanding a cap for frequent flying

Many travellers and shoppers stopped to watch the unusual Christmas event, pulling out their smartphones, and taking videos and photos. Some curiously looked at the flyers distributed by the activists. In those flyers, they called for a legal limit on air traffic with a maximum number of flights per person, arguing that emissions in this area cannot be reduced any further without this. “Most people,” it read, “would not be affected by this measure at all and would get along fine. People who travel a lot by plane, on the other hand, place an excessive burden on the Earth’s atmosphere. They will have to restrict themselves for the good of the community.” The activist group was also campaigning for a system whereby people who choose not to fly can sell their right to fly to those who want or need to fly more often. With reduced overall flight volume. This is a point of divergence with the demands of the Stay Grounded network who see a need to reduce flights as rapidly and fairly as possible.

As expected, not every passenger agreed with this approach: One passenger shook his head, stating his believe that “White hydrogen is the solution of the future”. A claim disproven by the Stay Grounded factsheet on hydrogen. Other airport visitors gave their thumbs up. Luckily, the activists received little open rejection or even aggressive reactions and a surprising number of conversations were characterised by understanding and agreement, as local activist Winfried Bernhardt reported. He said: “I haven’t flown for a long time, I’m doing this for my grandchildren and children, and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas.”

Targeting tax exemptions & other false solutions

“Frequent flyers should pay, non-flyers should cash in,” read the yellow and black banner and signs that could be seen from afar. Next to them, passengers searched the departure board for their flight times—for connections to Dubai, but also to Munich and Milan. “Our protest is also directed against the German government’s decision to grant the aviation industry tax relief that the railways and their customers can only dream of,” explained activist Melanie Bardowa. The “fairy tale of so-called sustainable aviation fuel” is also a point of criticism that they took aim at by singing to the tune of “Silent Night, Holy Night.”:

Power to the People

It was the third action the group has carried out at Düsseldorf Airport since the summer of 2025. The three-hour rally went off without any incidents. Only the publicly accessible power outlets that the activists originally wanted to use suddenly stopped working. They suspect that the operating company may have wanted to make the protest more difficult. But the dozen advent carol singers were not discouraged and quickly moved their campaign stand to a location where they could plug their loudspeaker into a power outlet. “Merry Christmas, and we’ll be back.”

Got an action idea? Apply to the action pot today with your group to receive financial support for your action.