Heathrow Resumes Flights After Major Power Outage Disrupts Operations.
Flights have begun landing again at Heathrow Airport following a day of severe disruption caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation. However, at least nine flights scheduled for this morning have already been cancelled as the airport works to restore full operations.
On Friday, thousands of passengers were left stranded after the fire brought Europe’s busiest airport to a standstill for most of the day. While some flights resumed late on Friday, Heathrow is aiming to restore a full service today.
Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation into the incident, though the Metropolitan Police have stated that there is currently no indication of foul play.
Passengers Frustrated by Flight Cancellations
Among those affected is Lynette Gracias, who was set to begin a 10-day holiday in Dubai. After her flight was cancelled on Friday, she managed to book another for today, only to see it cancelled again. She now hopes to secure a flight later tonight.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, she criticised the lack of clear communication from her airline. “News outlets were more informative than anything else,” she said, adding that the airline’s live chat and phone lines were overwhelmed with enquiries.
“It was just wait and see and hope for the best,” she added.
National Grid Apologises for Disruption
The National Grid has issued an apology, expressing regret for the power outage caused by the fire at the North Hyde substation in Hayes.
In a statement released early this morning, the electricity provider confirmed that power had been fully restored, including at Heathrow.
“We are now implementing measures to help further improve the resilience levels of our network,” the statement read. “We are deeply sorry for the disruption caused and are continuing to work closely with the Government, Heathrow, and the police to understand the cause of the incident.”
Airlines Struggle to Recover
Travel expert Simon Calder reported that British Airways was the worst-affected airline, with “dozens of planes” left scattered across the world due to the shutdown. Some aircraft remain grounded as far away as Reykjavik, Iceland, and Bavaria, Germany.
Overnight, British Airways cancelled several long-haul departures, including flights to Chicago, Boston, and Dubai, while inbound flights to Heathrow were also scrapped. Though some short-haul services were cancelled, the impact was less severe than initially feared.
According to Calder, approximately 10,000 passengers are facing delays today, in addition to those affected yesterday. He emphasised that airline regulations require passengers to be rebooked “as soon as possible.”
“The financial impact is enormous,” Calder added. “It’s costing airlines around £100 million in lost revenue, but the emotional cost to passengers is incalculable.”
With flights gradually resuming, authorities and airlines are working to clear the backlog and restore normal operations at Heathrow as soon as possible.
