Greenpeace Protesters Climb Atop Plane at Heathrow

[Silverback]

Feb. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Four protesters from the Greenpeace environmental group climbed atop a British Airways Plc Boeing 777 aircraft at London's Heathrow airport to protest climate change and plans to build a third runway.

Police responded and flights weren't affected, airport operator BAA Ltd. said today in an e-mailed statement. ``All of the protesters have now been safely removed and arrested by the police,'' the company said.

In November, the U.K. government joined other carriers and business groups in voicing support for the creation of a third runway and a sixth terminal to cope with demand at Europe's busiest airport, owned by Spain's Grupo Ferrovial SA. The runway work could be done by 2020.

Environmental lobbyists and people who live near the airport say another landing strip would raise noise levels and increase carbon emissions. ``Climate change can be beaten but not by almost doubling the size'' of Heathrow, protester Anna Jones told Sky News by telephone from the airport.

Heathrow has been criticized by airlines and passengers for delays, lost baggage and long lines at security checkpoints. BAA, which also owns London Stansted and Gatwick airports, has said Heathrow's problems stem from a lack of expansion.

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[Horned Toad]

I would have left them up there and said "Hang on were headed for the US"