Airlines update nuclear war plans as escalation threats grow
Airlines are taking steps to ensure that they can keep flying even after the outbreak of a nuclear war.
Jets could continue to fly following an atomic blast under special insurance policies being drawn up to address the possibility of conflicts escalating in Ukraine and Kashmir.
Current policies that date back to the 1950s would force the grounding of all civil aircraft worldwide in the event of a single nuclear detonation, assuming that this would lead to the outbreak of a third world war.
However, with the deployment of nuclear weapons now regarded as more likely to involve so-called tactical warheads used in a limited role on the battlefield, the insurance industry has developed plans to allow flights to continue in regions removed from conflict zones.
Gallagher, the world's largest aviation insurance broker, began working on the scheme when Vladimir Putin threatened to deploy Russia's atomic weapons against Ukraine in 2022.
'Why should Air New Zealand be grounded in the event of a nuclear detonation in Europe that was quite minor, albeit not for the people near it'
Nigel Weyman, Gallagher Insurance senior partner
Its plans have been given fresh impetus by the recent clash between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, where hostilities reached a level not seen for decades.
Nigel Weyman, senior partner at Gallagher, said the Ukraine conflict had revived interest in nuclear-related insurance policies.
He said: 'Back when the wording was drawn up, it was assumed that any hostile detonation meant that it would all be over, Armageddon. But what they didn't have in those days was tactical nuclear weapons that vary in size and impact and which are, ultimately, very usable.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
White noise: PM gets personal on airport opposition
Anthony Albanese knows what it's like to have the constant drone of aeroplanes above, shaking off opposition to Sydney's first all-hours airport. After cutting the ribbon of the completed Western Sydney Airport terminal, the prime minister spoke to the more than 48,000 residents in western Sydney and the Blue Mountains who will endure the noise from the pathways of aeroplanes. He said the government has "gone to a great deal of trouble" to ensure minimum disruption and impact of aircraft noise from the planes above, pointing out his home in inner city Sydney sits about five kilometres from Sydney Airport. "As the member for Grayndler and as a Marrickville resident, I'm very conscious about these issues," he told reporters from the new terminal on Wednesday. "We need aviation activity, the truth is that some people have opposed this airport existing. "Any time you have infrastructure, there'll be some opponents." On the runway, only four airlines have signed up. This is despite the airport aiming to cater for five million passengers per year once it opens, and 82 million by 2063. Air New Zealand announced on Wednesday they will dock in 2027, joining Qantas, Jetstar and Singapore Airlines. But the airport's chief executive Simon Hickey said they have spoken to more than 30 airlines. Mr Albanese expects more carriers to join before the $5.3 billion project opens in late 2026. "The objective here is for this to be a full international and domestic airport," he said. The terminal's completion marks a significant milestone since construction began four years ago. The gateway is inspired by the landscapes and flora around the Western Sydney region. Inside, the ceiling is emblematic of eucalyptus trees with the curly form of its bark intertwined with skylights that aim to show the Australian natural light. Passengers can also expect baggage to take five minutes to transport from the plane to the carousel, as about five kilometres of conveyor belts line the terminal, Mr Hickey said. A single terminal will also house international and domestic services under one roof. Mr Hickey said the airport has been designed to make flying less stressful. "What reduces that stress is natural light, air and easy way-finding, and we've got all of those elements here," the chief executive said. "We are standing under a skylight down in the lowest level, giving lots of natural light in your bag pick up area, which normally is a small and pokey place." The airport will be connected to an underground rail line from April 2027. Anthony Albanese knows what it's like to have the constant drone of aeroplanes above, shaking off opposition to Sydney's first all-hours airport. After cutting the ribbon of the completed Western Sydney Airport terminal, the prime minister spoke to the more than 48,000 residents in western Sydney and the Blue Mountains who will endure the noise from the pathways of aeroplanes. He said the government has "gone to a great deal of trouble" to ensure minimum disruption and impact of aircraft noise from the planes above, pointing out his home in inner city Sydney sits about five kilometres from Sydney Airport. "As the member for Grayndler and as a Marrickville resident, I'm very conscious about these issues," he told reporters from the new terminal on Wednesday. "We need aviation activity, the truth is that some people have opposed this airport existing. "Any time you have infrastructure, there'll be some opponents." On the runway, only four airlines have signed up. This is despite the airport aiming to cater for five million passengers per year once it opens, and 82 million by 2063. Air New Zealand announced on Wednesday they will dock in 2027, joining Qantas, Jetstar and Singapore Airlines. But the airport's chief executive Simon Hickey said they have spoken to more than 30 airlines. Mr Albanese expects more carriers to join before the $5.3 billion project opens in late 2026. "The objective here is for this to be a full international and domestic airport," he said. The terminal's completion marks a significant milestone since construction began four years ago. The gateway is inspired by the landscapes and flora around the Western Sydney region. Inside, the ceiling is emblematic of eucalyptus trees with the curly form of its bark intertwined with skylights that aim to show the Australian natural light. Passengers can also expect baggage to take five minutes to transport from the plane to the carousel, as about five kilometres of conveyor belts line the terminal, Mr Hickey said. A single terminal will also house international and domestic services under one roof. Mr Hickey said the airport has been designed to make flying less stressful. "What reduces that stress is natural light, air and easy way-finding, and we've got all of those elements here," the chief executive said. "We are standing under a skylight down in the lowest level, giving lots of natural light in your bag pick up area, which normally is a small and pokey place." The airport will be connected to an underground rail line from April 2027. Anthony Albanese knows what it's like to have the constant drone of aeroplanes above, shaking off opposition to Sydney's first all-hours airport. After cutting the ribbon of the completed Western Sydney Airport terminal, the prime minister spoke to the more than 48,000 residents in western Sydney and the Blue Mountains who will endure the noise from the pathways of aeroplanes. He said the government has "gone to a great deal of trouble" to ensure minimum disruption and impact of aircraft noise from the planes above, pointing out his home in inner city Sydney sits about five kilometres from Sydney Airport. "As the member for Grayndler and as a Marrickville resident, I'm very conscious about these issues," he told reporters from the new terminal on Wednesday. "We need aviation activity, the truth is that some people have opposed this airport existing. "Any time you have infrastructure, there'll be some opponents." On the runway, only four airlines have signed up. This is despite the airport aiming to cater for five million passengers per year once it opens, and 82 million by 2063. Air New Zealand announced on Wednesday they will dock in 2027, joining Qantas, Jetstar and Singapore Airlines. But the airport's chief executive Simon Hickey said they have spoken to more than 30 airlines. Mr Albanese expects more carriers to join before the $5.3 billion project opens in late 2026. "The objective here is for this to be a full international and domestic airport," he said. The terminal's completion marks a significant milestone since construction began four years ago. The gateway is inspired by the landscapes and flora around the Western Sydney region. Inside, the ceiling is emblematic of eucalyptus trees with the curly form of its bark intertwined with skylights that aim to show the Australian natural light. Passengers can also expect baggage to take five minutes to transport from the plane to the carousel, as about five kilometres of conveyor belts line the terminal, Mr Hickey said. A single terminal will also house international and domestic services under one roof. Mr Hickey said the airport has been designed to make flying less stressful. "What reduces that stress is natural light, air and easy way-finding, and we've got all of those elements here," the chief executive said. "We are standing under a skylight down in the lowest level, giving lots of natural light in your bag pick up area, which normally is a small and pokey place." The airport will be connected to an underground rail line from April 2027. Anthony Albanese knows what it's like to have the constant drone of aeroplanes above, shaking off opposition to Sydney's first all-hours airport. After cutting the ribbon of the completed Western Sydney Airport terminal, the prime minister spoke to the more than 48,000 residents in western Sydney and the Blue Mountains who will endure the noise from the pathways of aeroplanes. He said the government has "gone to a great deal of trouble" to ensure minimum disruption and impact of aircraft noise from the planes above, pointing out his home in inner city Sydney sits about five kilometres from Sydney Airport. "As the member for Grayndler and as a Marrickville resident, I'm very conscious about these issues," he told reporters from the new terminal on Wednesday. "We need aviation activity, the truth is that some people have opposed this airport existing. "Any time you have infrastructure, there'll be some opponents." On the runway, only four airlines have signed up. This is despite the airport aiming to cater for five million passengers per year once it opens, and 82 million by 2063. Air New Zealand announced on Wednesday they will dock in 2027, joining Qantas, Jetstar and Singapore Airlines. But the airport's chief executive Simon Hickey said they have spoken to more than 30 airlines. Mr Albanese expects more carriers to join before the $5.3 billion project opens in late 2026. "The objective here is for this to be a full international and domestic airport," he said. The terminal's completion marks a significant milestone since construction began four years ago. The gateway is inspired by the landscapes and flora around the Western Sydney region. Inside, the ceiling is emblematic of eucalyptus trees with the curly form of its bark intertwined with skylights that aim to show the Australian natural light. Passengers can also expect baggage to take five minutes to transport from the plane to the carousel, as about five kilometres of conveyor belts line the terminal, Mr Hickey said. A single terminal will also house international and domestic services under one roof. Mr Hickey said the airport has been designed to make flying less stressful. "What reduces that stress is natural light, air and easy way-finding, and we've got all of those elements here," the chief executive said. "We are standing under a skylight down in the lowest level, giving lots of natural light in your bag pick up area, which normally is a small and pokey place." The airport will be connected to an underground rail line from April 2027.
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
EU ambassador warns of ‘worrying signs' from China
China is showing 'worrying signs' of deeper alignment with Russia's anti-West agenda, the EU's top diplomat in Australia has warned. The caution has come as Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin continue to step up co-operation against a backdrop of the raging war in Ukraine and simmering tensions in the Indo-Pacific. Ambassador Gabriele Visentin said on Wednesday what happens in Australia's neck of the woods is 'completely intertwined' with what happens in Europe. 'I cannot possibly comment on the choice that the Australian government has on its defence policies,' the EU's envoy told the National Press Club. 'What I can say is that there is … a clear link between the Chinese and the Russian visions of what the new international rules-based order should be. 'We have seen maybe some worrying signs of military scaling up of China.' Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said last week said China's rapidly growing nuclear arsenal is driving 'security anxiety' in Australia. As of mid-2024, China's operational nuclear warheads exceeded 600, according to the US Department of Defence. That was nearly triple what the country was estimated to have in 2020. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also earlier this month warned of an 'imminent' threat from China, saying Beijing could invade the democratically self-governing island of Taiwan as early as 2027. Such a move would deal a major blow to global supply of semiconductors – crucial components in modern tech – and massively disrupt vital trade routes. 'Let me be clear, any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world,' Mr Hegseth told the Shangri La Dialogue. 'There's no reason to sugar-coat it. The threat China poses is real and it could be imminent. 'We hope not but certainly could be.' Mr Hegseth also called on Australia to boost defence spending in a meeting with Mr Marles, who holds the defence portfolio, on the sidelines of the conference. Asked how the EU might intervene in the event of a significant escalation in the Indo-Pacific, Mr Visentin was hesitant to outline any measures but said Europe had a 'vital interest' in keeping the region 'free'. 'I definitely think that the two theatres are completely intertwined,' he said. 'Forty per cent of the global trade towards the EU comes from the Indo-Pacific. 'Therefore, we do have a vital interest that the Indo-Pacific remains free and open. 'It's a matter of our wealth and our prosperity. 'So, of course we have to be aware of what a disruption of the status quo would mean for us as well.' The bloc deployed warships to the Red Sea in early 2024 to protect cargo ships from attacks by Islamist militants in Yemen emboldened by the conflict in Gaza. Mr Visentin also expanded on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's comments last month saying she wanted a deeper 'strategic partnership' with Australia. 'It's not a military alliance,' he said. 'It's a partnership for co-operation on defence issues, including industrial things.' He added 'there is no scope for an understanding in terms of transfer of troops or mutual help and mutual assistance', unlike NATO, which guarantees blanket mutual defence if a member state is attacked.
West Australian
7 hours ago
- West Australian
White noise: PM gets personal on airport opposition
Anthony Albanese knows what it's like to have the constant drone of aeroplanes above, shaking off opposition to Sydney's first all-hours airport. After cutting the ribbon of the completed Western Sydney Airport terminal, the prime minister spoke to the more than 48,000 residents in western Sydney and the Blue Mountains who will endure the noise from the pathways of aeroplanes. He said the government has "gone to a great deal of trouble" to ensure minimum disruption and impact of aircraft noise from the planes above, pointing out his home in inner city Sydney sits about five kilometres from Sydney Airport. "As the member for Grayndler and as a Marrickville resident, I'm very conscious about these issues," he told reporters from the new terminal on Wednesday. "We need aviation activity, the truth is that some people have opposed this airport existing. "Any time you have infrastructure, there'll be some opponents." On the runway, only four airlines have signed up. This is despite the airport aiming to cater for five million passengers per year once it opens, and 82 million by 2063. Air New Zealand announced on Wednesday they will dock in 2027, joining Qantas, Jetstar and Singapore Airlines. But the airport's chief executive Simon Hickey said they have spoken to more than 30 airlines. Mr Albanese expects more carriers to join before the $5.3 billion project opens in late 2026. "The objective here is for this to be a full international and domestic airport," he said. The terminal's completion marks a significant milestone since construction began four years ago. The gateway is inspired by the landscapes and flora around the Western Sydney region. Inside, the ceiling is emblematic of eucalyptus trees with the curly form of its bark intertwined with skylights that aim to show the Australian natural light. Passengers can also expect baggage to take five minutes to transport from the plane to the carousel, as about five kilometres of conveyor belts line the terminal, Mr Hickey said. A single terminal will also house international and domestic services under one roof. Mr Hickey said the airport has been designed to make flying less stressful. "What reduces that stress is natural light, air and easy way-finding, and we've got all of those elements here," the chief executive said. "We are standing under a skylight down in the lowest level, giving lots of natural light in your bag pick up area, which normally is a small and pokey place." The airport will be connected to an underground rail line from April 2027.
