ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Heathrow Airport resumed limited flight operations on Friday evening after a major power outage forced the closure of Europe’s busiest airport for an entire day, resulting in widespread flight delays and cancellations.
The airport, which handles millions of passengers annually, was hit by a significant fire at a nearby electrical substation late Thursday, knocking out power and grounding thousands of flights. The closure stranded tens of thousands of passengers and caused a ripple effect across global travel networks.
A Swift Recovery Effort
Heathrow’s teams worked tirelessly to restore normal operations, with limited flights resuming late on Friday. On the day of the incident, the airport was scheduled to manage 1,351 flights, carrying nearly 291,000 passengers. However, due to the closure, numerous flights were diverted to other airports in the UK and Europe, while several long-haul flights had to return to their departure points.
In a statement, Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye expressed regret over the disruption, saying, “We expect to be back at full operation by tomorrow morning. Our teams have worked hard to manage the situation, and we apologize for the inconvenience caused.”
Emergency Response and Investigations
While the fire’s cause is still under investigation, police have ruled out any suspicious activity. The London Fire Brigade has focused its efforts on inspecting the electrical distribution equipment at the substation, which is believed to have caused the outage.
Officials assured the public that the event was not a result of a broader system failure, with the backup systems in place working as intended. However, the incident raised questions about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure at such a major transport hub.
Widespread Airline Disruptions
The airport’s closure led to significant disruptions for major airlines, including British Airways, JetBlue, American Airlines, and Air Canada. Many flights were diverted, and passengers were left stranded at various airports, scrambling to find alternative travel arrangements.
Aviation experts compared the scale of the disruption to the 2010 volcanic ash cloud crisis that grounded flights across Europe. Airlines like British Airways, which had 341 flights scheduled for Friday, now face considerable delays as they work to reposition aircraft and crew.
Sean Doyle, CEO of British Airways, acknowledged the long-term impact, stating, “It will take several days for us to get back on track, and we expect significant disruptions for our passengers in the coming days.”
Hotel Prices Surge Amidst Chaos
With many passengers unable to return home on the scheduled flights, hotel prices around Heathrow skyrocketed, with rooms selling for up to five times their usual rate. Stranded travelers, including those like Robyn Autry, a professor stranded in London, expressed frustration over the inconvenience and high costs, with many worried about additional expenses for rebooking flights.
The Financial Impact and Public Response
The airport’s shutdown has raised concerns within the airline industry about the financial costs of the disruption, which could run into the tens of millions of pounds. Airline executives have expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of sufficient backup infrastructure at the airport, questioning how such a critical piece of the UK’s transport network could be so vulnerable.
Philip Ingram, a former British intelligence officer, called the event a “wake-up call” for the UK’s critical infrastructure. “There is no reason why an airport as vital as Heathrow should be taken offline due to a single substation failure,” he said.
The British Department for Transport and the airport’s management have since worked closely with emergency services and airline operators to minimize the disruptions and ease congestion. Additionally, temporary measures, such as lifting restrictions on overnight flights, have been implemented to help alleviate the strain.
