Heathrow shutdown is a ‘dramatic learning curve’ in airport crisis management, expert says
The closure of London’s Heathrow Airport due to a nearby fire on Friday has put the focus on the aviation industry’s ability to handle a crisis, according to a travel industry expert.
At the time of writing, Heathrow remained shut after a fire at an electricity substation that caused a power outage on Friday.
“The growth of the [aviation] industry is happening faster than the growth of infrastructure,” said Anita Mendiratta, founder of consultancy AM&A, who stressed that aviation needs to become more resilient to incidents like an energy supply disruption, or to geopolitical or weather events.
The Heathrow outage is “putting a spotlight on the need to make sure that the entire network of energy supply for any … airport around the world has sufficient capability to address a crisis,” Mendiratta told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe” on Friday. “All of this is a very dramatic learning curve.”
A back-up generator was also affected by the blaze, raising questions over the resilience of the supporting energy infrastructure, according to U.K. energy minister Ed Miliband, while Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) described Heathrow’s reliance on a “single” power source as a “clear planning failure” by the airport.
In an emailed statement, Heathrow said it has multiple sources of energy. “Our back up systems are safety systems which allow us to land aircraft and evacuate passengers safely, but they are not designed to allow us to run a full operation,” Heathrow said.
Broader impact
Mendiratta said the Heathrow incident would have have a ripple effect for aviation that goes far beyond flight cancelations. She described the implications of the Heathrow incident as “very wide,” as the growth of aviation is outpacing the increase in supporting infrastructure, she said.
Mendiratta described the growth of aviation globally as “massive.”
“It is extreme in terms of how it has grown far beyond even 2019 rates,” she said. This raises questions over the industry’s resilience to unplanned weather or geopolitical events and whether the surrounding infrastructure can support it.
Globally, both domestic and international air passenger traffic surpassed pre-Covid-19 levels in early 2024, according to IATA, and passenger numbers are expected to increase by an average of 3.8% annually to 2043, compared to 2023.
“Even though much of the focus of the story is very much on Heathrow and passengers, what we also need to take into account is over and above passenger traffic, over 4,000 tons of cargo go through Heathrow every single day,” Mendiratta added.
Heathrow Airport handled a record 83.9 million passengers in 2024 — up nearly 6% on the year prior — while its cargo transportation increased by 10%.
Whether passengers can get compensation for canceled flights depends on their airlines’ terms, Mendiratta said. As the Heathrow fire appears to be outside of airlines’ control, such reimbursement may not be payable, according to a note issued by Citi on Friday.
Investors will consider short-term costs such as food and beverage, accommodation, alternative flights or land transport for passengers affected by cancelations, Mendiratta flagged, as well as looking at how airlines manage customer care in the long term.
“That, ultimately, is going to be the basis of customer retention, which from an investor point of view is going to be very important … it’s a significant calculation,” she said.
Future of aviation
A third runway at Heathrow Airport has long been mooted, with its CEO putting pressure on the U.K. government to make a decision on the controversial expansion by the end of the year. British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves said the extra runway was “badly needed” in a January speech.
Meanwhile the aviation industry is pushing forward with sustainable aviation fuel deals to help meet decarbonization targets.
“As we shift into the future and look at sustainable aviation, this is where infrastructure can now look at green technologies, which are vital to enable aviation to continue to grow, but grow in a healthy way,” Mendiratta said.
— CNBC’s Jenni Reid contributed to this report.
With an expected debut in less than a month, we are finally getting our first look at the new Volkswagen T-Roc. Volkswagen’s popular SUV is going electric, but it will be the first to use a unique new Toyota-like powertrain. Here’s what to expect.
Volkswagen’s new SUV to debut as an EV, HEV, or both
The T-Roc was Volkswagen’s second most popular SUV globally last year, following the Tiguan. VW confirmed earlier this year that the “new generation of the T-Roc arrives in 2025,” and now we are finally getting our first glimpse of it.
Volkswagen previewed the new T-Roc for the first time on Monday, revealing its sleek new design that almost looks like a Porsche from the side.
According to Autocar, the second-gen T-Roc will be the first to use Volkswagen’s new full-hybrid powertrain. Like the Toyota Prius, it will utilize a gas engine and an electric motor, which can operate simultaneously.
It will be the brand’s first production vehicle to feature the new powertrain. CEO Thomas Schäfer explained that VW is “experimenting now because certain regions are gliding into HEVs.”
Although we know Volkswagen’s new EV SUV is set to launch globally, including Europe and South America, will it arrive in the US? It’s a possibility. Schäfer added, “Interestingly enough, HEV has also become a big theme in the US specifically.”
Several automakers are shifting to hybrids in the US as “a bridge” to fully electric vehicles, including Ford, Honda, and Toyota.
Volkswagen’s chief said the company will “see where it makes sense” to add more hybrids to its lineup, adding “we’re not going to double everything up; we will have PHEV and HEV models.”
The hybrid system will not be featured on every new model based on the platform, a VW official told Autocar, but it will be used for the new-generation Golf and Tiguan models.
Volkswagen is expected to unveil the new T-Roc at the Munich Motor Show in Germany, starting on September 9. We will also likely get our first official look at the upcoming ID.2X SUV (previewed above). More details, including full powertrain specs and pricing, will be revealed closer to launch.
What do you think of the new design?
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![XCMG XCS65K: it takes big machines to build big battery projects [video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/08/XCMG-XCS65K.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
The heavy equipment experts at XCMG have launched what they’re calling a “world’s first” 70 ton reach stacker designed specifically to support the construction of large, utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects.
Battery energy density is getting better, but that just means more kWh per lb. of battery. Batteries are still incredibly heavy, and the massive BESS projects that help support the grid, create a market for second life EV batteries, and create a market for excess renewable energy that would otherwise be curtailed require the precise and controlled placement of thousands of tons of batteries. The problem is that, while heavy equipment assets like telehandlers and excavators can get the job done, they aren’t built for that sort of work. That’s inefficient – and, with more than $100 billion worth of BESS projects set to come online in just the next five years, that’s a lot of room for process improvement.
The new XCMG XCS65K 65 tonne (70 ton, in imperial units) reach stacker is specifically designed to meet the logistics needs of large- and utility-scale storage projects, combining precise controls, specialized implements, and five-layer stacking capacity with advanced safety technologies to offer construction fleets a serious upgrade.
“The XCMG XCS65K is not just an upgrade; it’s the core driver of efficient delivery in large-scale energy storage projects,” explains Miao Fei, Deputy General Manager of XCMG Port Machinery. “With its unparalleled lifting capacity and precision, we’re solving the industry’s most challenging logistics challenges.”
XCMG XCS65K features a high-precision micro motion system that provides millimeter-precise load control, an AI-powered anti-roll technology that instantly adjusts to varying load conditions, 360 degree panoramic imaging, and intelligent braking, ensuring safe operation in complex working environments, keeping the human workers in and around the machine safe, too.
The XCS65K received Chinese certification in April, and is now available globally. XCMG reports that customers have already reported significant improvements in operating efficiencies and turnaround times since deploying the new reach stacker.
Electrek’s Take
China-based XCMG gained popularity (on this site, at least) because of its deployment of battery-swap technology in heavy equipment like dozers, haul trucks, and the XE215 excavator. These quiet, vibration-free electric equipment assets are moving thousands of tons of dirt every day, proving that HDEVs can get the job done, on and off highway – and now, they’re helping reinforce the electrical grid, too.
SOURCE | IMAGES: XCMG, via Makina Market.
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