Heathrow Airport in London, one of the busiest in the world, is gradually returning to full capacity after a fire at an electrical substation caused significant disruptions. This incident, which struck early Friday, led to the cancellation and diversion of over a thousand flights, affecting the travel plans of more than a quarter of a million passengers, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics firm. The Metropolitan Police are currently investigating the cause of the fire but have found no evidence of foul play thus far.
Flights Restart with Caution at London’s Heathrow After Power Crisis
Flights Restart with Caution at London’s Heathrow After Power Crisis
Heathrow Airport is cautiously resuming operations today following a power outage caused by a fire, but travel disruptions persist.
The situation is improving, with British Airways, Heathrow's largest airline, forecasting that around 85% of Saturday’s scheduled flights will proceed, albeit with delays expected throughout the day. Travelers are advised to check with their airlines before heading to the airport to avoid unnecessary travel, as substantial delays remain likely while airlines work to realign their schedules.
Heathrow's chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, noted that while a backup transformer functioned during the outage, it wasn't sufficient to support the entire airport's power needs. The London Fire Brigade reported challenges in extinguishing the fire due to the presence of cooling oil at the substation, complicating recovery efforts. Following the incident, the National Grid has made adjustments to partially restore power to the airport and surrounding areas.
As international flights begin to arrive from various destinations, including Hong Kong, South Africa, and Brazil, the airport continues to advise passengers of the ongoing challenges and to remain patient during this recovery phase.
Heathrow's chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, noted that while a backup transformer functioned during the outage, it wasn't sufficient to support the entire airport's power needs. The London Fire Brigade reported challenges in extinguishing the fire due to the presence of cooling oil at the substation, complicating recovery efforts. Following the incident, the National Grid has made adjustments to partially restore power to the airport and surrounding areas.
As international flights begin to arrive from various destinations, including Hong Kong, South Africa, and Brazil, the airport continues to advise passengers of the ongoing challenges and to remain patient during this recovery phase.
