What we know about Heathrow Airport

What we know about Heathrow Airport
London’s Heathrow Airport is Europe’s busiest. (FILE/REUTERS)
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Updated 21 March 2025
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What we know about Heathrow Airport

What we know about Heathrow Airport

Britain’s Heathrow Airport, a major travel hub, said it would be closed all of Friday after a huge fire at a nearby electrical substation wiped out power, disrupting flight schedules around the world.

Here are some facts about one of the world’s busiest international airport:

HISTORY:

  • The airport is named after the village or hamlet of Heathrow, which used to be roughly where Terminal 3 now stands.
  • It began as a tented village in 1946 serving 18 destinations with a handful of airlines making 9,000 flights a year.
  • The first departure was on New Year’s Day 1946 to Buenos Aires via Lisbon, the first refueling stop on a long-haul flight to open up Britain’s first air link with South America.
  • Heathrow’s first terminal for short haul flights opened in 1955. Originally known as the Europa Building, it is now known as Terminal 2.
  • Terminal 1 was formally opened in 1969 by Queen Elizabeth and was closed in June 2015. Terminal 3 opened in 1961 and Terminal 4 in 1986.
  • Terminal 5 opened in 2008. The public inquiry into its construction was the longest in British planning history, lasting nearly four years.




(FILE/AFP)


KEY NUMBERS:

  • Heathrow serves over 230 destinations in nearly 90 countries.
  • 90 airlines have made Heathrow their base, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Lufthansa.
  • There are two main runways. The northern one is 3,902 meters long. The southern is 3,658 meters.
  • The airport will submit its proposal for a third runway this summer, weeks after the British government granted its support to the project citing its potential to boost trade and economic growth.
  • According to the group’s traffic summary, 5.7 million passengers traveled through Heathrow in February 2025, making it the busiest February on record. Passenger numbers amounted to 84.1 million from March 2024 to February 2025.
  • Heathrow is operating at 99 percent capacity and risks being overtaken by European rivals. Its two runways compare with four each at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt Airport, and six at Amsterdam’s Schiphol.
  • There are around 475,000 total aircraft movements annually.
  • The most popular destination is New York.
  • Over 90,000 people work at the airport, the UK’s largest single-site employer.

Saudi, Indian militaries complete first army-to-army talks

Saudi, Indian militaries complete first army-to-army talks
Updated 3 min 36 sec ago
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Saudi, Indian militaries complete first army-to-army talks

Saudi, Indian militaries complete first army-to-army talks
  • Discussions in New Delhi focus on Sada Tanseeq drill, knowledge sharing
  • Agreement follows Indian PM’s visit to Kingdom earlier this week

NEW DELHI: The first army-to-army talks between the Indian Army and the Royal Saudi Land Forces have resulted in an annual defense cooperation plan that includes joint drills, expert exchanges, and operational logistics, India’s military said on Friday.
The talks took place in New Delhi on April 23-24.
“Discussions focused on the annual defense cooperation plan, covering joint exercise Sada Tanseeq, training, military education, domain expert exchanges and engagements in areas of mutual interest,” the public information arm of the Indian Ministry of Defense said on X.
“Both sides also explored avenues of collaboration in operational logistics, battlefield management systems & niche technologies to enhance interoperability and capability development,” it said.
The Sada Tanseeq exercise, the first edition of which took place in Rajasthan in January and February, aims to enhance interoperability and joint operational capabilities between the two nations’ land forces, particularly in semi-desert terrain.
The exercise involved 90 troops from both sides focusing on training for operations under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which pertains to actions regarding threats to peace, breaches of peace and acts of aggression.
The talks in Delhi followed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia and meetings with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman earlier this week.
During the visit the two sides expanded the Saudi-Indian Strategic Partnership Council to include a ministerial committee for defense cooperation and agreed to enhance defense industry collaboration.
“It is significant that the first army-to army staff level talks were held immediately after the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the crown prince, who decided to form a ministerial-level defense cooperation committee to give a push to already deepening defense and strategic relations between India and Saudi Arabia,” defense and strategic affairs expert Ranjit Kumar told Arab News.
“The two countries have already conducted joint army exercises in 2021 and 2023. Later, the navies of the two nations have also organized two rounds of joint naval exercises. These are indicative of growing proximity between the Indian and Saudi defense forces, which may lead to new strategic equations in the region.”


Magnitude 6.3 earthquake hits Ecuador coast

Magnitude 6.3 earthquake hits Ecuador coast
Updated 23 min 1 sec ago
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Magnitude 6.3 earthquake hits Ecuador coast

Magnitude 6.3 earthquake hits Ecuador coast
  • Monitors said the epicenter was near the Pacific coast of Esmeraldas

QUITO: A shallow 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the Pacific coast of Ecuador early Friday, the US Geological Survey reported, and was felt as far away as the Andean capital Quito.
AFP reporters felt the shake before 7:00 am local time (1200 GMT).
Monitors said the epicenter was near the Pacific coast of Esmeraldas, at a depth of about 35 kilometers (22 miles).
There were no immediate reports of victims or severe damage and Ecuadoran authorities said there was no tsunami risk.
Ecuador sits on one of the most geologically active zones on Earth, and the fault between the Nazca and South American plates runs along its coast.


Hassan laughs off suggestion Sunday’s London marathon could be better than her debut

Hassan laughs off suggestion Sunday’s London marathon could be better than her debut
Updated 21 min 1 sec ago
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Hassan laughs off suggestion Sunday’s London marathon could be better than her debut

Hassan laughs off suggestion Sunday’s London marathon could be better than her debut
  • “I don’t know why I get nervous and scared about the marathon but you have to go for over two hours,” Hassan said
  • Hassan went on to win Olympic marathon gold last year in Paris

LONDON: Sifan Hassan concedes she remembers little about her remarkable marathon debut two years ago in London when she stopped twice to stretch her hip before her stunning kick down the home stretch to victory, but she is hoping for less drama in Sunday’s race.
The 32-year-old Dutchwoman, who headlines the women’s field for the 45th edition of the London Marathon, laughed when asked on Friday if she is poised for an even better performance on her return to England’s capital.
“Better than two years ago? I’m never going to be better than two years ago,” Hassan told reporters.
“I don’t know why I get nervous and scared about the marathon but you have to go for over two hours,” she added. “I had a lot of drama in my win two years ago.”
The Olympic champion over 5,000 and 10,000 meters dropped back from the field in the 2023 London race due to cramping before drawing on her track experience to out-sprint Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir and Alemu Megertu of Ethiopia.
“Everybody is asking me ‘Do you remember what happened in London in 2023?’ I don’t remember a lot of it all honesty. I was throwing up before the race and then I had some issues in the race,” Hassan said. “The biggest thing I remember was the last five kilometers and that part was crazy.”
Hassan went on to win Olympic marathon gold last year in Paris in similarly dramatic fashion, battling Tigst Assefa before finally shaking off the Ethiopian with the finish line in sight.
“I never knew that I’d have that much patience for a race like the marathon,” Hassan said. “Every marathon is different, like Paris, Chicago, London or Tokyo.
“Every time you run the London Marathon, it’s like competing the Olympics. I’m excited to race because we all know each other as well. It’s a beautiful sport.”
Sunday’s field took a hit when world record-holder Ruth Chepngetich and last year’s London champion Jepchirchir withdrew earlier this month.
Former world record-holder Assefa and 2021 London champion Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya will look to give Hassan a run for her money.
“London Marathon is a big event and there are lots of reasons why I like to run here,” Assefa said on Friday. “To win here will mean so much to me in my career.”
Jepkosgei said she relishes the “great opportunity” to line up against Hassan and Assefa, adding: “A marathon is like a book and you open each chapter every time you run. I learn on every occasion I compete.”
Uganda’s half-marathon world record-holder Jacob Kiplimo, who is making his marathon debut, Ethiopia’s Olympic champion Tamirat Tola and marathon great Eliud Kipchoge headline the elite men’s field.
Reigning Paralympic marathon champions Catherine Debrunner and Marcel Hug top the women’s and men’s wheelchair fields, while Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee and British distance specialist Eilish McColgan, both making their debut in the 41.195-kilometer distance, are among the top British contenders.


UAE lands starring role in Hollywood film ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’

UAE lands starring role in Hollywood film ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’
Updated 44 min 4 sec ago
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UAE lands starring role in Hollywood film ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’

UAE lands starring role in Hollywood film ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’
  • Third installment of popular franchise will be released in November

DUBAI: The UAE has landed a starring role in the upcoming Hollywood film “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t,” with scenes filmed in the capital city Abu Dhabi.

The production, which will be released in November, wrapped up a 13-day shoot at several of the capital’s landmark locations, according to the Creative Media Authority on Thursday. 

The film, which is packed with high-stakes heist scenes, was shot at destinations including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Bridge, the Liwa Desert, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, CLYMB, Yas Marina Circuit, W Abu Dhabi — Yas Island, and various city streets.

The third installment of the popular franchise, directed by US filmmaker Ruben Fleischer, brings back Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, and Morgan Freeman in their previous roles, joined by an ensemble cast that includes Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt, and Rosamund Pike.


VISA to triple Pakistan office size, partner with 1-Link, PayPak — finance minister

VISA to triple Pakistan office size, partner with 1-Link, PayPak — finance minister
Updated 54 min 30 sec ago
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VISA to triple Pakistan office size, partner with 1-Link, PayPak — finance minister

VISA to triple Pakistan office size, partner with 1-Link, PayPak — finance minister
  • Muhammad Aurangzeb hails company’s role in advancing digital payments and financial inclusion
  • The finance minister also assures the US financial services company of the government’s full support

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Thursday US financial services company Visa will triple the size of its office in Pakistan and collaborate with the country’s first-ever domestic payment card scheme, 1Link and PayPak.
Visa Inc. is a global payments technology company that operates one of the world’s largest electronic payment networks, enabling consumers and businesses to make payments using Visa-branded credit, debit and prepaid cards.
Visa doesn’t issue cards itself but partners with banks and financial institutions to do so. 1Link and PayPak is similar in concept to Visa or Mastercard but is designed specifically for local use within Pakistan.
The Pakistani minister, currently in Washington, appreciated Visa’s role in the digitalization of his country’s economy during a meeting with the company’s regional vice president, Andrew Torre.
“He [Aurangzeb] noted that Visa’s decision to triple the size of its office in Pakistan and its collaboration with 1Link and PayPak would contribute significantly to promoting financial inclusion, e-commerce, transaction security, and payment gateways in Pakistan, as well as facilitate remittances,” the finance ministry said in a statement issued after the meeting.
It added the finance minister also assured the company of the government’s full support in resolving any issues faced by them.
Aurangzeb’s meeting with Torre came as the country works toward a more inclusive and digitally empowered economy, with government backing and private sector innovation aligned.