...The protest, initially approved to take place at Jan Dellaertplein, escalated when activists moved into Terminal 2, where demonstrations are prohibited. The Koninklijke Marechaussee, the Dutch military police, responded by detaining 38 protesters.

KLM’s operational director, Maarten Stienen, strongly criticised the activists’ actions, stating: “Demonstration is a right, but breaking the rules is not. This must stop. We expect the Public Prosecution Service to identify those causing disruptions and take appropriate action.”...

The activists were protesting against KLM’s Flying Blue programme, a frequent flyer scheme that rewards passengers with points for flights, allowing them to claim discounts, upgrades, and other benefits. According to Extinction Rebellion, such schemes encourage excessive flying and significantly contribute to global warming.

A statement from Extinction Rebellion read: “Science is clear: continuing to fly excessively will cause the Earth’s temperature to rise well above 2 degrees. Frequent flyer programmes, like KLM’s Flying Blue, reward excessive flying and are therefore a symbol of an industry that refuses to confront the climate crisis.”...