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Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, March 21. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
As of midnight, London’s Heathrow Airport has been closed due to a major power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation, reports editor Peden Doma Bhutia. The airport announced it would remain shut until 11:59 p.m. on March 21 to ensure the safety of passengers and staff, urging travelers to contact their airlines for updates.
A total of 1,351 flights scheduled for Friday — including 679 arrivals and 678 departures — have been canceled, with at least 120 flights diverted so far. British Airways has been hit the hardest, while other airlines like American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines, and Air India have also rerouted or canceled multiple flights.
Nearby airports, including London Gatwick, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam, are accommodating diversions as Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest two-runway airports, remains out of service.
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Accor announced on Thursday that its loyalty program surpassed 100 million members globally. Hospitality Reporter Luke Martin examines where Accor Live Limitless stands in the competitive hotel loyalty landscape.
Although ALL has seen significant growth in recent years, both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors have at least twice as many members. Martin writes ALL faces structural challenges in closing the gap with the leading loyalty programs since its smaller global footprint limits some redemption opportunities.
Next, Airbnb is still heavily targeting Chinese travelers despite no longer posting listings in the country, writes Contributor Christine Mao.
Outbound travel from China is a key part of Airbnb’s global expansion strategy, and Mao notes Airbnb has ramped up its presence on Chinese social media platforms RedNote and Douyin. The company has also aligned its marketing with China’s peak outbound travel periods, running seasonal campaigns around events such as the Lunar New Year and Labor Day in May.
Overnight reservations by Chinese travelers on Airbnb have grown substantially since Beijing reopened its borders in 2023 after three years of Covid closure.
