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Heathrow fire cost airport tens of millions of pounds, says CEO

Heathrow fire cost airport tens of millions of pounds, says CEO

The Guardian4 days ago
The substation fire that closed Heathrow for almost a day in March cost the airport 'tens of millions' of pounds, its chief executive has said.
Giving the hub's first public estimate on the bill from the blaze, Thomas Woldbye said Heathrow had yet to decide whether to pursue National Grid for damages, as it awaited the findings of the energy regulator Ofgem into the incident.
Heathrow was criticised for its lack of resilienceafter more than 270,000 passenger journeys were disrupted when an overnight fire and power outage stopped flights landing or taking off on 21 March.
Woldbye, who slept through the night with his phone on silent, said he 'would have liked to see my personal role play out differently'.
A report by the National Energy System Operator found that the fire was due to a known, preventable fault at the North Hyde substation, and that insufficient action was taken to remedy problems detected in 2018. Ofgem has launched an investigation.
Woldbye said that Heathrow would also be 'investing in agreement with the airlines to improve the physical resilience' of the airport.
The comments came as Heathrow revealed that profits fell by a third in the first half of the year despite passenger numbers reaching a record high, with 39.9m journeys in the six months to 30 June.
Woldbye said the fall in pre-tax profits to £203m was down to higher costs, 'primarily finance costs, as the consequence of higher interest rates'.
Heathrow this month submitted a five-year investment plan to the Civil Aviation Authority to improve its facilities and raise charges by about £5 per passenger. The airport is due to submit further plans next week to the government for a third runway, after the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, signalled support to restart the controversial scheme.
Woldbye said: 'If we are to meet customers' requirements, and I think we should, particularly on capacity, that will cost money. Heathrow is a very space constrained airport. We already have two or three times as many passengers per square metre of airport as our competitors in Europe. Creating additional capacity is not easy, and hence it's costly.'
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He said the runway would not be in operation until 2035 at the earliest and indicated that the airport would be pursuing it with caution. 'The government has asked for input. If customers are not clear, they want it, if the country is not clear they want it, why would we do this?'
The submission is expected to spell out the need for action on new flight paths and planning reform before Heathrow commits major investment, but it will include a 'baseline plan' for the runway, which in its last iteration required major work and diversions to the UK''s busiest motorway, the M25, and would increase the number of flights at Heathrow by up to 50%.
However, he added: 'I think it is very important for the country, because I think we are already lagging behind on aviation capacity in the London area, and we'll continue to do that for a while. We need to create the right conditions for both airlines and airport to make sure that it's a success. Will Heathrow survive without a third runway? Yes.'
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New night routes and earlier starts for Bristol's buses

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The Duke of York It may be one of the most popular pubs in Belfast, but walking down the cobbled alley to its entrance always feels special. That alleyway, with dozens of flower-filled hanging baskets and vintage Guinness signs, is cracking on a sunny day, but the interior is the epitome of cosiness, with a brick bar, low ceilings and weathered floor tiles. Nab a seat by the vintage printing press, to see if you can spot the dirty words hidden in the lettering. Sunflower Though the Sunflower name on the door is relatively new, this spot has been the home to a pub for over 100 years. The entrance is distinctive, with a bright green cage over the door (leftover from The Troubles) and the sign outside is one of the most photographed in Belfast: 'No topless sunbathing. Ulster has suffered enough'. There aren't any bells and whistles inside, but an excellent selection of craft beers like Yardsman stout and Kinnegar ales, and there's a beer garden, too. Best for live music Peadar O'Donnell's A minimalist's nightmare, this pub has paraphernalia hanging from every inch of space, from antique sewing machines to a proliferation of flags. As such, it feels like a quintessential Irish pub, particularly in the evening, with traditional musicians filling the room with song. Get a low table in the corner, order a well-poured pint of Guinness, and listen to the masters at work. House of McDonnell Owned by the same family for almost 300 years, this listed building is where you'll find some of the best traditional music in the country, with a session every Friday night, and other gigs throughout the week. It's on the Ballycastle Trad Music Trail, and it's even been name checked in some traditional Irish songs and poems. There's a charming little outdoor area, with weathered brick walls and wooden seats, and it's open until 1am. 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