In a major blow to global air travel, London’s Heathrow Airport—the busiest airport in Europe—was forced to suspend all flight operations on Friday following a massive power outage caused by a fire at an off-site electrical substation. The disruption has affected over 1,350 flights and left hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded across the globe.
According to Heathrow officials, the airport was shut down until at least midnight Friday, with widespread uncertainty about when full operations would resume. Terminals 2 and 4 were left completely dark after the substation blaze knocked out their power supply. Although lights have now returned to Terminal 4 following an interim fix by electricity distributor National Grid, the situation remains precarious, with backup systems unable to handle full airport operations.
Fire Sparks Outage and Global Delays
The fire, which broke out late Thursday night at the North Hyde electrical substation about two miles from the airport, caused a ripple effect across global aviation networks. Witnesses reported a huge explosion followed by a fireball and dense smoke. Residents in west London described the blaze as “apocalyptic,” with one local delivery driver saying he felt intense heat while passing the site.
Fire crews battled the blaze for over seven hours. By Friday morning, power had been restored to about 62,000 homes and businesses, though nearly 5,000 customers remained without electricity. Heathrow’s reliance on a single power source is drawing sharp criticism, as questions mount about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure.
Airline Industry Slams Heathrow Management
Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), sharply criticized Heathrow management, calling it “a clear planning failure” that such a critical global hub had no robust alternative power backup. He also raised concerns over the cost burden on airlines, asking whether it was fair for carriers to absorb the financial losses from an airport infrastructure failure.
Chaos for Travelers: Hotel Prices Surge, Flights Canceled
Stranded passengers are facing mounting frustration as hotels near Heathrow drastically increase room rates. HotelPlanner.com reported that the Crowne Plaza near Terminal 4 was charging over $600 for a single night—more than quadruple the normal rate. CEO Tim Hentschel warned of opportunistic pricing and called for the hospitality industry to show restraint during crises.
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United Airlines and Delta both issued travel waivers, offering passengers alternate routes through cities like Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels, and Edinburgh. Eurostar also responded to the crisis, adding extra high-speed train services between London and Paris to help alleviate pressure.
Meanwhile, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) canceled 12 round-trip flights between Heathrow and various European cities, and Air India suspended all Heathrow flights until further notice. One Air India flight bound for London was even forced to return midair to Mumbai, while another was rerouted to Frankfurt.
U.K. Government Orders Probe, Security Concerns Raised
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for a thorough investigation, stating, “There are clearly questions to answer.” While police say there is no immediate sign of foul play, the counterterrorism unit has taken over the investigation, given the critical nature of the infrastructure affected.
Security analysts have raised alarms over the incident, with Alan Mendoza from the Henry Jackson Society warning that the U.K. is ill-prepared for attacks or disasters targeting national infrastructure. “If one fire can bring down Heathrow, it’s clear we need to rethink our contingency strategies,” he said.
Market Impact and Airline Share Decline
The impact of the Heathrow shutdown rippled through European stock markets, with airline shares dropping across the board. British Airways’ parent company, International Airlines Group (IAG), saw shares fall by 1.4%. Lufthansa and Air France-KLM also recorded similar losses. Even carriers not operating through Heathrow, like Wizz Air and Ryanair, saw a dip in investor confidence.
Comparisons to 2010’s Volcanic Ash Crisis
The current disruption is drawing comparisons to the 2010 eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which shut down European airspace for nearly a week and affected millions of travelers. Experts warn that Heathrow’s shutdown could have similar long-lasting effects if power is not fully restored soon.
What Passengers Should Do
Heathrow authorities have advised passengers to avoid traveling to the airport until further notice. Travelers should contact their airlines directly—preferably through social media, as phone lines are overwhelmed. Some may qualify for refunds or compensation under EU261 regulations, although post-Brexit rules vary by route.
Uncertain Road Ahead
As of Friday evening, Heathrow officials still had no clear timeline for the full restoration of services. Alternative airports like Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and Southend may be used to reroute flights, but transportation challenges remain, especially for travelers already stuck at Heathrow terminals.
With power still partially down and uncertainty looming, travelers and industry leaders alike are left grappling with the fallout from one of the most significant airport shutdowns in recent years.
