Heathrow Shutdown Triggers Widespread Disruptions for Travelers
Travelers scheduled to fly into, out of, or connect through London’s Heathrow Airport on Friday, March 21, faced an unprecedented disruption as the airport closed for most of the day following a fire at an electrical substation that supplies the hub. The fire caused a significant power outage, prompting Heathrow authorities to shut down operations entirely in order to ensure passenger and crew safety. A notice on the airport’s website indicated that flights would gradually resume on a reduced schedule, with the focus on repatriating passengers and relocating aircraft. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, 1,334 flights were originally scheduled for Friday, representing nearly 300,000 travelers, with more than half of these flights—primarily operated by British Airways—being canceled, most of which were bound for or arriving from New York’s JFK. In addition, 1,219 flights were slated for Saturday, highlighting the far-reaching impact of the incident.
At around 11:23 p.m. on Thursday, March 20, the London Fire Brigade reported receiving numerous calls about a fire at a high-voltage substation near Heathrow. The blaze involved a transformer containing 25,000 liters of cooling oil that was fully alight, posing a major hazard due to live high-voltage equipment and the inherently dangerous nature of an oil-fueled fire. Firefighters worked throughout the night to contain the blaze, which not only left the airport struggling with power outages but also affected a backup generator, sparking concerns over the resilience of the airport’s supporting energy infrastructure. U.K. Energy Minister Ed Miliband and International Air Transport Association director general Willie Walsh both criticized the situation; Walsh described Heathrow’s reliance on a single power source as a clear planning failure.
In response to the crisis, several airlines quickly introduced fare and change fee waivers. Delta Air Lines announced a waiver for all flights to, from, or through Heathrow scheduled on or before March 26, urging passengers to frequently check flight status for up-to-the-minute information. United Airlines offered similar waivers for flights purchased on or before March 20, stipulating that rebooked flights must depart between March 20 and March 28 on a United flight, while American Airlines waived change fees for tickets purchased by March 20 that were scheduled for March 21 or 22, with changes required to be booked by March 22. Travel experts have advised passengers holding rewards tickets to contact customer service directly for potentially better options, while noting that airlines typically do not cover additional expenses such as hotels or meals.
The disruption has also drawn attention to the broader challenges faced by one of Europe’s busiest airports, which handles nearly 4.3 million passengers each month. Key routes most affected by Friday’s closure include flights from New York’s JFK and Dubai, as well as significant impacts on flights involving Dublin, Frankfurt, Doha, Munich, Los Angeles, Madrid, and Delhi. Industry analysts, including Cirium spokesperson Mike Arnot, warned that the sheer volume of disrupted flights would likely cause delays and cancellations to persist well into the weekend, potentially extending into next week as airlines struggle to realign aircraft, crew, and passengers. Travelers are urged to know their rights; the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority advises that airlines must offer refunds or alternative flights when disruptions occur and to keep all receipts if arranging their own travel. Passengers should remain vigilant, monitor their flight status regularly, and explore backup travel options to mitigate the impact of the ongoing Heathrow crisis.
Related News : https://suspicious-zhukovsky.67-21-117-18.plesk.page/?s=Heathrow+Airport