Leipzig / Halle Airport has developed into an important freight hub for Germany and Europe in recent years. In the Federal Republic - in contrast to Austria - the volume rose sharply during the corona pandemic. Therefore, the planned expansion in Saxony is obvious.

However, some demonstrators had something against it and blocked the access to the Deutsche Post-DHL logistics center on Saturday night. This led to a backlog of trucks so that the executive had to intervene. According to its own information, DHL also filed criminal charges against the demonstrators.

On the spot, many demonstrators did not want to reveal their identity to the police, so that an investigating judge had to deal with the matter on Sunday. According to the public prosecutor's office, pre-trial detention was not reimbursed because the suspects then identified themselves to the judge and could be identified beyond doubt. The law enforcement authorities are investigating the initial suspicion of coercion.

The fact that there were urgently awaited corona vaccines on board some aircraft also caused a stir in Leipzig. These were reloaded onto trucks, which, however, could not leave the area due to the blockade. Allegedly, pilots are also said to have been prevented from entering the airport, so that there were delays even with departing cargo planes.

Due to the high demand, around 40 additional parking spaces for cargo planes are to be created at Leipzig / Halle Airport. This would increase capacity by around 40 percent. Local residents and environmentalists fear that there could be more aircraft movements at night. Therefore, they try to prevent the expansion by means of protest rallies.