Manchester Airport called on environmental protesters yesterday to engage in debate about climate change rather than “silly stunts”, after demonstrators blocked the departure lounge for several hours.

Nine protesters from the campaign group Plane Stupid formed a human blockade at Terminal 3, the airport’s domestic departures terminal, at about 7.30am.

They taped themselves together to prevent passengers moving from the check-in lounge to the departure lounge. Passengers had to be taken through the emergency entrance.

No flights were affected by the protest, and police negotiated a peaceful end to the demonstration at around 10am. There were no arrests.

There is concern that there will be more demonstrations to disrupt flights. Russell Craig, the airport’s senior spokesman, said: “We would encourage those groups, including environmental groups, to engage in sensible debate and not pull stunts like this.”

Vanessa Hall, one of the protesters, who sits on Manchester City Council for the Green Party, apologised for the disruption but claimed they had no choice.

She said: “We think there needs to be an end to domestic flights.”

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