Activists criticised the “absurd, deadly (…) and completely unnecessary” greenhouse gas emissions from these short connections when there are transport alternatives, calling for investment in railways and public transport with a view to guaranteeing a “fair transition of aviation workers for a safe transport sector.”

According to Lusa, in statements cited in the press release, one of the activists involved in this action at Lisbon airport considered the continuation of this type of air connections “an act of insanity”.

“It’s like watching your house burn and throwing gasoline on the fire. These types of useless flights must be the first thing to be stopped in the genocidal aviation industry, encouraged by our Government to continue its expansion - now with the construction of a new airport -, when we know that we need to cut emissions urgently and that every day that we don’t do so we are sentencing more people to death in Portugal”, said Alice Gato.

According to the activist, Portugal today has fewer railways than in the 20th century, accusing the Government of not having a plan for the future: “If we are handed over to rulers who consciously condemn thousands to death, we have a duty to resist.”

Today's action follows several protest actions over the last few weeks, such as the blocking of several streets and roads, the throwing of paint at the Minister of the Environment and Climate Action, Duarte Cordeiro, as well as the FIL building and a painting by Picasso at the Museum of Contemporary Art - Centro Cultural de Belém (CCB), and the filling of holes on a golf course in Lumiar with cement.