Heathrow Airport closed after fire; 200,000 travelers stranded

Heathrow Airport in London faced a major disruption on March 21 due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation. The airport was closed for a full day, leaving around 200,000 travelers stranded. Heathrow, known for being one of the busiest airports in the world, warned passengers of ongoing significant delays and advised them to stay away until it reopens. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport reclaimed its title as the busiest airport globally, serving over 104 million passengers annually. It boasts 5.4 million available seats this March, a 3% increase from the previous year. Dubai International and Dallas Fort Worth International follow closely, with 87 million and 82 million passengers respectively. Despite the fire incident, Heathrow has been recognized as Europe’s best-connected airport. This is based on the number of destinations and connections available. After about 12 hours of closure, Heathrow announced plans to reopen but advised travelers to check with their airlines before heading to the airport. Tokyo-Haneda, Denver International, and Istanbul Airport are also among the busiest airports, with passenger numbers of 78.7 million, 77.8 million, and 76 million respectively. Los Angeles International and Chicago O'Hare follow closely, along with Delhi Airport, rounding out the top ten busiest airports worldwide. Together, these airports account for about 10% of global air traffic.