Ice-Proofing Pays Off as Heathrow Endures Rare London Blizzard
- Europe’s busiest airport keeps runways open during whiteout
- Hub has spent $50 million on snowplows, gritters and de-icers
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As the worst snowfall in years blocks roads and shuts down much of Britain’s rail network, there is at least one bright spot for travelers -- London’s once notoriously weather-sensitive Heathrow airport has managed to keep its runways open and flights operating.
Europe’s busiest hub, which closed for four days in 2010 after just 90 minutes of snow, has so far ridden out the worst of the weather system dubbed “The Beast from the East” with only a handful of flight cancellations to other airports closed Thursday by the blizzard.