Extinction Rebellion protesters arrested at Schiphol over KLM's Flying Blue program

Dozens of climate activists from Extinction Rebellion (XR) were arrested at Schiphol Airport on Saturday after defying a designated protest zone and demonstrating against KLM's Flying Blue loyalty program. As of now, 38 individuals have been detained, according to a spokesperson for the Koninklijke Marechaussee, the Dutch military police.

XR activists were initially permitted to protest at the Jan Dellaertplein, but they moved to the departure hall of Schiphol’s Terminal 2, an area where demonstrations are not allowed. The protesters were subsequently arrested and transported by bus from the airport to an undisclosed location. The protest is still ongoing at Schiphol.

The Flying Blue program allows passengers to collect points for each flight, which can later be redeemed for benefits such as discounts or upgrades. XR condemns the program, arguing that frequent flyer programs like Flying Blue encourage excessive flying, a practice that contributes significantly to global warming. "Science is clear: continuing to fly excessively will cause the Earth’s temperature to rise well above 2 degrees," said XR in a statement. "Frequent flyer programs, like KLM’s Flying Blue, reward excessive flying and are therefore a symbol of an industry that refuses to confront the climate crisis."

The protest coincided with International Women's Day, with XR emphasizing how the climate crisis disproportionately affects women. "Women are 14 times more likely to die due to the climate crisis and represent four out of five climate refugees," XR argued. "This is because women often do not receive timely information about natural disasters such as floods, and when facing drought, they must travel further to gather water, exposing them to a greater risk of (sexual) violence."

KLM’s operational director, Maarten Stienen, responded by acknowledging the right to protest but emphasized that violating the rules is not acceptable. "Demonstration is a right, but breaking the rules is not," Stienen stated. "This must stop. We expect the Public Prosecution Service to identify those causing disruptions and take appropriate action."

Stienen also highlighted KLM’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, noting that the airline plans to invest billions in cleaner, quieter, and more efficient aviation technologies in the coming years. Regarding the Flying Blue program, Stienen clarified that it is a loyalty program, stating, "We reward passengers who choose to fly with us by offering points."