Will I be covered if Just Stop Oil protesters ground my flight this summer?

Just Stop Oil has hinted at a summer of disruption at UK airports, after two protesters sprayed a pair of private jets at Stansted Airport.

“If this incoming government doesn’t get us on a war footing then we’re not going to have anywhere to fly to,” a Just Stop Oil source told The Times, adding that the Stansted protest was a “prelude” to a summer of disruption.

In March, the Daily Mail reported that Indigo Rumbelow, the co-founder of Just Stop Oil, told campaigners at a meeting in Birmingham: “We’re going to take our non-violent, peaceful demonstrations to the centre of the carbon economy. We’re going to be gathering at airports across the UK.”

A protest at a UK airport – whether in the terminal, on the runway, or on the connecting transport network – could bring significant disruption to holiday plans. Here is everything you need to know, and how you can protect yourself against losing money if your airport is targeted.

Have protesters targeted airports before?

In 2019, climate activists flew toy drones near Heathrow airport with the aim of disrupting flights and raising awareness about the climate impact of a possible third runway. Roger Hallam, the co-founder of both Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, and his co-defendants were spared jail but given suspended sentences for the stunt.

In 2021, James Brown, a former Paralympic athlete, was jailed for 12 months for supergluing himself to the roof of a British Airways plane at London City airport in October 2019.

Private jets have been a target, too. Aside from the recent incident at Stansted Airport, in January this year, Extinction Rebellion activists marched from Farnborough town centre to Farnborough Airport to protest against expansion plans.

Roads and motorways near airports have also been hit by protests. In 2021, Insulate Britain activists blocked a road near Manchester airport by gluing their hands to the tarmac. In July 2022, Just Stop Oil protesters scaled the gantry above the M25 near Heathrow, affecting more than 4,000 passengers travelling to the airport

What happens if my flight is cancelled because of a protest?

Under UK law, regardless of the circumstances, if your flight is cancelled your airline is obliged to place you on the next available flight. The same goes if you booked a package holiday with a tour operator.

Will I get compensation?

You will only receive compensation from your airline or package holiday provider if the delay or cancellation is their fault. A protest grounding flights qualifies as “extraordinary circumstances” outside of the airline or tour operator’s control, such as extreme weather or an air traffic control strike, so you would not be eligible for compensation.

I’ve booked a package holiday – what next?

If you have booked a package holiday and your flight is cancelled thanks to a protest, your tour operator has a responsibility to find alternative flights for you regardless of the cause. They will work hard to get you on your holiday, even if it means flying from a different airport, but on occasion it may be impossible to go ahead. If this is the case, you will be offered an alternative holiday option departing imminently, alternative dates for your existing booking, or a full refund.

Will I get free food and drink?

If a protest grounds your flight, your airline must offer you care and assistance. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, this means a “reasonable amount of food and drink”, which is often provided in the form of a voucher, plus accommodation and transfers if required.

If you are not given vouchers, keep receipts of any food, drink and accommodation, but be warned – it is unlikely that your airline will reimburse you for alcohol or a room at a luxurious hotel when a cheaper option is available.

Can I claim on my holiday insurance?

“Protests are generally a grey area within the travel insurance industry,” says Rebecca Kingsley of Travel Insurance Explained.  

“Across the majority of policies in the industry, cover is not in place for cancellation in the event of a protest, nor can you add anything to protect yourself against this. The same is true if you are delayed in getting to the airport and subsequently miss your flight.

“Some policies may have a trip disruption extension, but make sure you check the terms and conditions of the policy extension and what type of disruption it covers, as protests may be excluded.”

None of the travel insurance comparison sites we checked allowed us to filter for flight disruption due to a protest. The best way to ensure you are covered is to call or email your insurance provider to ask for it to be added on.

What if a protest prevents me from boarding my flight?

If you are unable to board your flight due to action in the terminal or on transport networks, and the flight takes off without you, you enter difficult territory. The burden is on the passenger to arrive at an airport with plenty of time. This means neither your tour operator nor airline is obliged to place you on the next available flight. In this instance, your only option may be to book an alternative flight and try to claim it back on travel insurance, if you have this cover added on (see above). Make sure you book a return leg, too. By missing the outbound, your return flight will almost certainly be cancelled too.