What We Know About the Closure of Heathrow Airport

The closure of London’s Heathrow Airport on Friday due to a nearby fire caused significant travel disruptions worldwide. This closure affected one of the busiest airports globally, with an average of over 220,000 passengers passing through daily last year.

Heathrow serves as a crucial travel hub for Britain, Europe, and the world, offering flights to more than 180 destinations through 90 airlines. Passengers traveling to and from destinations like Tokyo, New York, and Riyadh were impacted by the closure.

The airport advised passengers not to travel to Heathrow as it would remain closed until at least 11:59 p.m. local time.

Here is what we know about the closure of Heathrow Airport:

The closure was triggered by a fire near the airport.

Heathrow reported a power outage on Friday morning, caused by a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport.

The London Fire Brigade responded to the fire in western London on Thursday night, evacuating about 150 people from the area. The cause of the fire remains unknown.

The fire also affected nearby homes and businesses, leaving around 16,000 customers without power on Friday morning.

The impact of the closure will be felt globally.

Heathrow’s closure will result in the cancellation of at least 1,351 flights, affecting both inbound and outbound travel. Flightradar24 reported that 120 aircraft scheduled to land at Heathrow were already in the air when the closure was announced.

Some flights were diverted to alternate airports such as London Gatwick, Amsterdam Schiphol, and Charles de Gaulle in Paris. The disruption caused by the fire is expected to continue into Friday morning.

Passengers were advised not to travel to Heathrow until the airport reopens, with significant disruptions anticipated in the coming days.

Travelers facing disruptions are protected by UK laws.

British laws require airlines to assist passengers in case of cancellations or delays. Passengers should be offered refunds or alternative travel options promptly. Additionally, passengers may be entitled to food, accommodation, and transport if their flights are affected.

Travelers should check with their airlines for specific policies regarding canceled or diverted flights.