BERLIN (AP) — The German Cabinet on Wednesday approved a law that would impose tougher penalties for people who breach airport barriers, in response to incidents such as disruptive protests by climate activists.

The bill, which still has to be passed by parliament, provides for penalties of up to two years in prison for people who intentionally enter airport “air areas” such as taxiways or runways and endanger civil aviation, or enable others to do so. Until now, such intrusions can only be punished with a fine.

A prison sentence of up to five years would be possible, for example, if someone forcibly enters an airport with prohibited items such as a weapon, certain knives or poisonous substances, or if the intrusion is intended to facilitate or cover up another crime.

This move follows protests by climate activists at airports in recent years, which led to disruptions in air traffic.

“Anyone who enters the airport grounds, sticks themselves to the runways and thereby massively disrupts air traffic is not only risking their own life,” said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser in a statement. “Such incidents are also dangerous for many innocent people, for example in the event of a medical emergency.”

She also pointed out the disruption to tens of thousands of travelers and the resulting economic consequences.

Faeser said repeated incidents in recent times required tougher penalties and that airport operators must do more to protect their facilities.

The Associated Press