Heathrow Terminal 5 Tests Infiltrated by Climate Protesters

Heathrow's Terminal 5 will be targeted by environmental activists when it opens in the spring, UK newspaper The Times reports.

Members of anti-aviation group Plane Stupid, responsible for a week-long climate change protest at the airport earlier this year, have infiltrated passenger trials taking place at the airport over the coming months.

Heathrow's owner BAA has recruited 15,000 volunteers to take part in 100 trials of the terminal's check-in security search and baggage systems.

A Plane Stupid spokesman says the group is considering taking direct action at the terminal shortly after it opens.

"Terminal 5 is an icon representing the breakneck expansion of air travel in this country and the aviation industry's failure to address the damage it does to the climate," he says.

"Our supporters are ordinary people and BAA will have no way of knowing whether its volunteers are just plane geeks or activists committed to taking direct action".

BAA admits it will have no way of identifying protesters amongst its volunteers.

A Heathrow spokesman responded, saying: "This pressure group would do far better to engage with the aviation industry in proper debate on climate issues rather than in publicity stunts".

By staff writer