A lawsuit has been brought against Fraport Brasil – the Brazilian subsidiary of Fraport AG, which owns Frankfurt Airport in Germany – following accusations of environmental destruction.
On 18 March, Fortaleza city councillor Gabriel Biologia filed a class action lawsuit against the firm, along with other regulatory public agencies, seeking compensation of 100 million Brazilian Reais (around €16.5 million).
The lawsuit alleges “irregularities and illegalities” related to the deforestation of an area of land located around Fortaleza International Airport in Brazil, which is being cleared to build a logistics warehouse. Fortaleza International Airport is a subsidiary of Fraport AG.
Frankfurt Airport owners hit with eco-lawsuit
According to the lawsuit, the deforestation and the development project “violate” the plan that was originally approved in the concession process conducted by ANAC, Brazil’s civil aviation authority, and contain “serious flaws in the environmental licensing process”.
The document also claims that public bodies have been complicit in the irregularities, allowing the destruction of the Atlantic Forest and triggering direct impacts on both wildlife and neighbouring communities.
It is claimed that more than 60 acres of Atlantic Forest – which is among the world’s top global biodiversity hot spots that houses one in 14 of the Earth’s total plant species – has been cut down to make room for the warehouse.
Biologia argues this is not just a case of unauthorised construction, and could be the “biggest environmental crime” Foraleza has seen in a decade.
“Our action aims to ensure the forest’s recovery and hold those who allowed this damage to occur to account,” she says.
‘Hell bent on profit’
Hannah Lawrence, a spokesperson for Stay Grounded, a group campaigning for a reduction in aviation to fight the climate crisis, says: “This case shows the inequality at the root of aviation expansion projects.
“Global corporations, hell bent on profit, destroy local communities and the environment and put all [of] our futures at risk. A few wealthy shareholders profit at the expense of communities like those in Fortaleza that bear the heavy burden.”
The case is now awaiting review by the judiciary and is being heard at the 7th Federal Court of Ceará, Brazil.
Fraport Brasil says it complies with environmental obligations
When contacted by Euronews Earth, a spokesperson for Fraport AG said that "Fraport Brasil complies fully with all applicable federal, state and municipal environmental and regulatory frameworks in Brazil."
They said the company "requires that all activities conducted by its partners within the airport site follow the legally mandated licensing procedures and are carried out under the authorisation of the competent authorities."
While they could not comment on the specifics of the case, they said: "Fraport Brasil remains committed to acting responsibly, transparently and in accordance with all environmental and legal obligations.
"Regarding development projects at Fortaleza Airport, these initiatives are designed to support regional economic growth while adhering to sustainability requirements set by the relevant authorities."
This article has been edited to clarify that Fraport Brasil is a subsidiary of Fraport AG.
