But Protests Office Complex, Not Airline

You may say that to protest an airline because it flies is, well, 'plain stupid'... and in this case, you'd be right.

Twelve members of the British environmental group Plane Stupid climbed onto the roof of a North London office building affiliated with the British low-cost carrier EasyJet Monday morning, and unfurled a banner that read "End Short Haul Flights." Six more protestors blocked the entrance, keeping workers from their jobs for about an hour and a half.

The group is protesting short haul airline flights by Luton-based EasyJet... saying those routes have a significant impact on the environment.

"Tony Blair talks the talk about taking action on climate change while building more runways and allowing more planes at airports," protestor John Stewart told the BBC. "Immediate action should be taken to deal with short-haul flights by increasing the tax charged on tickets for short-haul flights."

After about four hours, the group dispersed... but here's where the story takes an odd turn.

You see, the protestors blocked a building that houses a firm called Easygroup... which is owned by EasyJet, but it's not where the airline is headquartered... contrary to a release on the Plane Stupid website.

"Environmental activists opposed to the climate wrecking effects of short haul flights have this morning shut down the HQ of Easyjet in London," states the release. "Activists from green direct action group, Plane Stupid, took action on Britain's first national day of action against short haul flights today which coincides with the start of the UN Climate talks in Nairobi."

Plane Stupid also takes credit for grounding planes "at a short-haul airport" by blocking a taxiway, and marking the 60th anniversary of London Heathrow by chaining themselves across the entrance to the British Aviation Authority's office.

Easygroup workers say they're puzzled why Plane Stupid would target their office.

"The airline EasyJet functions out of Luton," said Easygroup worker James Rothnie. "A lot of my colleagues were asking what the protesters were doing here and I think most were baffled as EasyJet is not based here."

Maybe the protestors didn't want to waste fuel for that trip to Luton?

FMI: www.easyjet.co.uk, www.planestupid.com