Moray campaigners join protest at Inverness Airport against Scotland’s richest man Anders Holch Povlsen

Climate activists from Moray have taken part in a protest at Inverness Airport against a private jet company owned by Scotland’s wealthiest man.

Extinction Rebellion campaigners dressed up as blackbirds during Saturday’s demonstration as a way to highlight their opposition to Blackbird Air, a company set up by Anders Holch Povlsen.

The Danish-born billionaire, who lives in Glenfeshie in the Cairngorms, made his fortune from online retail. He owns 200,000 acres of land on 12 estates across the north of Scotland and is a keen supporter of environmental causes, setting up another company Wildland Ltd.

However the protestors point to the apparent contradiction of this stance and owning Blackbird Air, which operates two private jets used for both business and personal travel, with over 1100 flights recorded between 2020 and 2023.

The protest at Inverness Airport, which was matched by a twin demonstration at Billund Airport in Denmark, saw activists bearing placards declaring ‘Ban Private Jets’ and ‘Blackbird Nae mAir’.

A huge banner was also laid on the ground with words from the Wildland Ltd company’s own website, stating “We’re in a climate emergency. We need to step up and take action”.

Dr Sarah Birkby from Extinction Rebellion Highlands and Islands and Moray said: “It is completely contradictory to state the importance of acting on the climate emergency and at the same time run a private jet company.

“The time when people, no matter how rich, could say one thing and do the exact opposite is over. As Wildland Ltd itself declares, we need people to step up and take action.”

Private jets, the protesters claim, produce ten times more carbon dioxide emissions per passenger than commercial flights.

Speaking to the Strathspey and Badenoch Herald, one of this newspaper’s sister titles, Mr Povlsen defended his stance.

He said: “We understand that flying corporate or private in small business aircraft comes with added responsibility, and we are very aware of the impact of our activities.

“That awareness makes us even more committed to taking ambitious steps toward meaningful progress. For us, this is not an either/or situation but a continuous effort to balance responsibility with practicality.”

“We sincerely strive to work on and invest in solutions that address today’s challenges and support the best opportunities for future generations, including the regeneration and protection of our natural world and taking action on climate change.

“That’s why I’m pleased to confirm that WildLand is a net positive company, which includes the footprint of our guests traveling to and from our properties.”

Mr Povlsen, who’s worth an estimated £6billion, added: “For anyone traveling between Billund and Inverness, as our family does a few times a year, the difference in calculated carbon dioxide footprint is minimal, given the lack of direct commercial connections, in my opinion.

“Furthermore, we have never chartered an external operator or used a jet card – our movements are 100 % transparent.”

A jet card is a private aviation product that enables holders to use different aircraft at agreed-upon fixed hourly rates.