Sky News Daily How could a fire shut down Europe's biggest airport?
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Mar 21, 2025 Tom Cheshire, Sky News's data and forensics correspondent, shares insights on the unprecedented fire that shut down Heathrow Airport. He discusses the chaos caused for travelers and airlines, highlighting the inherent risks of relying on single points of failure in infrastructure. Cheshire emphasizes the importance of reevaluating the UK's air travel system and enhancing resilience to safeguard national functionality. The conversation also touches on broader implications for critical infrastructure amidst rising threats.
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Previous Disruption
- Simon Calder recalls the NATS air traffic control computer failure on August 28, 2023.
- This failure resulted in 2,000 flight cancellations, similar to the Heathrow disruption.
Targeted Disruption
- The Heathrow fire's impact is significant because it targets Europe's busiest transport hub.
- Calder predicts the situation will worsen due to this targeted disruption.
Airline Responsibilities
- Airlines must find alternative same-day flights if possible during disruptions.
- If rebooking is impossible, they bear the cost of inflated hotel and alternative flight prices.