Heathrow Shutdown Disrupts Global Flights Amid Electrical Fire
A fire at an electrical substation has forced the closure of London’s Heathrow Airport, the U.K.’s largest and one of the world’s busiest travel hubs, causing major disruption to international and domestic flights. Heathrow announced that the airport will remain closed until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, with hundreds of flights affected by the shutdown. Flight tracking data from Flight Radar indicates that 679 flights were scheduled to land at Heathrow on Friday, while 678 were set to depart. As a result, airlines and passengers have been scrambling to adjust travel plans, with many carriers advising travelers to delay their trips.
British Airways has taken a cautious approach, urging customers not to travel to the airport until further notice. The airline released a statement explaining that the disruption is expected to have a significant impact on its operations and that they are actively working to update affected passengers with alternative travel options. Where possible, British Airways is redirecting inbound flights already en route to Heathrow to other U.K. airports to minimize inconvenience.
Virgin Atlantic has also been forced to cancel all arriving and departing flights until 9:30 p.m. on March 21. A spokesperson informed CNBC that the Heathrow closure is severely affecting their flying program, and that all flights on that day are currently under review. In addition to canceling flights, Virgin Atlantic is diverting aircraft to other airports or returning them to their origin. The airline is in the process of emailing rebooking details to affected customers, although some may be scheduled on different dates or required to travel from alternative airports. Passengers who decide not to travel will be eligible for a full refund.
Lufthansa confirmed that all flights scheduled to land at and depart from Heathrow on Friday have been canceled. The airline stated via email that affected passengers have been rebooked on alternative flights and advised that bookings must include valid contact details to ensure customers receive timely updates. Singapore Airlines has experienced similar disruptions; flight SQ322, which departed Singapore on Thursday, was diverted to Frankfurt, while flight SQ306 from Singapore was redirected to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Another flight was forced to return to Singapore, and flight SQ318 has been canceled. The airline has assured customers that it will provide hotel accommodations and alternative travel options where necessary.
Emirates announced the cancellation of six flights operating in and out of Heathrow, advising that passengers connecting to London-bound flights will not be accepted for travel until further notice at the point of origin. Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific has canceled flights CX239 and CX253 from Hong Kong to London on March 21, with all flights from London to Hong Kong on that day also canceled. The airline is assessing the situation and promises to keep customers informed with the latest updates.
United Airlines reported that seven of its flights have been diverted or returned to their originating airports due to the closure, and all flights to Heathrow on Friday have been canceled. Swiss is also canceling all flights from Zurich and Geneva to Heathrow on Friday, affecting nearly 3,000 customers, and has closed sales for these routes for Saturday, March 22. Qatar Airways and Aer Lingus have similarly confirmed that multiple flights have been canceled or diverted, with both carriers advising passengers to check their flight status and contact customer service for further assistance.
The Heathrow shutdown, prompted by the electrical fire, has sent ripples through the global travel industry, leaving passengers uncertain about their travel plans while airlines work to manage the cascading disruptions.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, cnbc.com