Heathrow Airport has invested an extra half a million pounds in equipment to ensure the airport won’t be forced to shut due to snow and ice this winter.
As sub-zero temperatures sweep across the country, the airport has moved to reassure passengers it expects to stay open throughout the worst of the weather.
It promised it has a fleet of more than 60 snow ploughs and de-icing vehicles at the ready to clear runways and taxiways if snow arrives.
Heathrow’s specialist teams have been preparing for bad weather since the end of last winter and airside operations teams spent the summer refreshing their training with plans discussed with airlines, baggage handlers and air traffic control to ensure a co-ordinated response, it said.
While London ran out of grit last winter, the airport insists it has enough of highly concentrated de-icing fluid to keep runways open. It has also installed a computer system that remotely measures fluid levels.
Director of airside Colin Wood said: “As the world’s busiest international airport it’s absolutely vital we are well prepared and our team do an excellent job often in quite severe conditions. While we stayed open last winter, we won’t rest on our laurels and promise that we’ll be ready, waiting and doing everything we can to make every journey better for our passengers.”
By Linsey McNeill
