London’s Heathrow Airport, one of the world’s busiest travel hubs, was forced to close for an entire day on Friday following a fire at a nearby electrical substation that led to a major power outage.
The disruption resulted in widespread flight cancellations, leaving airlines scrambling to rebook passengers and manage the logistical challenges caused by the unexpected shutdown.
The power outage, caused by a fire at an electrical substation near the airport, led Heathrow officials to suspend all flights until 11:59 p.m. local time on March 21, 2025.
“Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored,” a Heathrow spokesperson said.
Passengers were advised not to travel to the airport and to check with their respective airlines for updates.
The fire, which broke out late Thursday night, required around 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines to contain. Though no injuries were reported, approximately 29 people were evacuated from neighboring properties, and 150 others were cleared from a 200-meter perimeter as a precaution, according to the London Fire Brigade.
With Heathrow shut down, airlines were forced to cancel flights, reroute inbound planes to alternative airports, and rebook passengers where possible.
- British Airways, the airline most affected, had around 340 scheduled flights at Heathrow on Friday. It announced that flights already en route to the airport were redirected to other British airports, while travelers with upcoming flights were advised to check their booking status.
- United Airlines reported that seven of its flights had to return to their origin or be rerouted, with all Friday flights to Heathrow canceled.
- Lufthansa Group Airlines canceled all Heathrow flights for the day, stating that affected passengers were rebooked on other flights.
- Virgin Atlantic canceled all flights until 9:30 p.m. local time, with later flights under review. The airline urged customers to check for updates online rather than contacting customer service directly.
- Air France and KLM canceled multiple flights to Heathrow but continued operating flights to other UK airports. KLM mentioned that passengers with urgent travel needs could be accommodated on flights to nearby airports.
- Qantas diverted flights from Singapore and Perth to Paris, arranging ground transportation for passengers to London.
Meanwhile, Ryanair added eight “rescue” flights between Dublin and London Stansted to accommodate stranded passengers.
The disruption at Heathrow also affected airline stocks. Shares of IAG, British Airways’ parent company, dropped by about 1%, while Air France-KLM saw a 1.6% decline in European trading. Airlines also face rising costs as they manage rerouted flights, passenger rebookings, and compensation for accommodations, food, and transportation.
Despite the challenges, airlines assured customers that affected flights would be rebooked free of charge. However, uncertainty remains as officials work to restore full power and resume normal airport operations.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, and power restoration efforts continue.
With input from FOX Business, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal.
