WeMove Europe is an EU-wide campaigning and petition platform. An independent and values-based organisation that seeks to build people power to transform Europe in the name of our community, future generations and the planet.

Airlines are flying empty planes across Europe, with no people or goods in them. Over 100,000 ghost flights have flown over our heads this winter. All because of a law the European Commission won't let go of. In a moment when we are racing to cut emissions and save our planet, this outdated law is madness. Lufhansa, Air France, British Airways and other airlines are calling for a stop to this waste, and so are environmentalists. More and more people are learning about this absurd situation through the media.

The good news is that governments can rebel against this rule that fuels climate chaos. In fact, Austria has already boldly declared it will rebel. Belgium, Germany and Spain have signaled they might follow suit. Before more needless flights take off, we need to convince the governments in countries with the busiest airports to follow their example, and make courageous declarations about it. Now that the tide is turning, let’s make our governments hear their voters roar louder than an airplane engine.

WeMove Europe approached Viernes in February 2022 to propose we create the image for their campaign against ghost flights. 

We sought to produce an impacting, emotional image to draw the public’s attention on-line and mobilize it to join the campaign and disseminate this petition. 

What emotion was it we wanted to generate? 

This is an outlandish phenomenon. The absurdity of it all is almost crazy, and the initial natural reaction when learning about it is incredulousness, then horror, and then probably anger and indignation. We wanted to channel all of these emotions to get people to sign and disseminate the petition by exposing the perilousness of the problem without leading to paralysis.

Turning to horror films, we found a rich visual imagery that served as inspiration, allowing us to generate a play on these emotions and connect with people.

 We demand that EU member states individually and collectively:

• Take action to prevent empty passenger flights.

• Revise EU legislation to bring an end to these outdated airport slot usage rules.

• Support national measures and European legislation that helps promote long-distance rail and phasing out short-haul flights where alternatives exist