Leadership | Heathrow CEO went to bed as closure crisis unfolded - is that OK?

In the early hours of Friday morning last week, Heathrow’s executive team made a monumental decision: To close Europe’s busiest airport, cancelling 1,300 flights for nearly 300,000 passengers.

The decision, confirmed by Heathrow Chief Operations Officer Javier Echave, followed a major fire at the largest substation supplying power to the airport.

But as passengers grappled with the ensuing chaos and Echave pursued a controversial course of action – set to be scrutinised in an internal review led by former transport secretary Ruth Kelly – where on earth was Chief Executive Officer Thomas Woldbye?

Grabbing 40 winks, of course!