Key Updates

London's Heathrow Airport is set to restart a limited number of flights later today after a complete shutdown resulted in significant turmoil at one of the world’s busiest travel hubs. The UK’s National Grid reported that power has been restored to certain areas of the airport following an outage caused by a nearby large fire. However, airport officials are cautioning passengers against traveling to Heathrow until it is fully operational again.

Global Implications

The closure of Heathrow is projected to impact more than 1,300 flights in the coming days, leading to widespread disruptions in global travel. An airline analytics firm estimates that over 145,000 passengers may be affected, while an aviation expert shared with CNN that the financial losses for the airline industry could reach into the hundreds of billions of dollars.

Investigation in Progress

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, with counter-terrorism police involved due to its significant effects on critical national infrastructure. The UK’s energy minister has indicated that there is currently "no suggestion" of foul play in the incident.