One of the world’s busiest airports, London’s Heathrow Airport was closed for the entire day of Friday, resulting in global travel disruptions. This closure occurred after the airport lost power due to a nearby fire. The disruption affected an important travel hub for Britain, Europe, and the world, with an average of over 220,000 passengers traveling through the airport daily on flights offered by 90 airlines to more than 180 destinations.

Heathrow advised passengers not to travel to the airport as it would be closed until at least 11:59 p.m. local time. A power outage caused by a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport was the cause of the closure. The London Fire Brigade responded to the fire in western London late Thursday, deploying many firefighters and evacuating about 150 people. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Additionally, nearby homes and businesses were affected, leaving around 16,000 customers without power.

The closure of Heathrow is expected to have a global impact, with at least 1,351 flights in and out of the airport being affected. Some flights were diverted to alternate airports, while others turned back to their origin. The disruption is expected to continue into the following days, with Heathrow advising against traveling to the airport.

Under British law, airlines are obligated to provide assistance to passengers facing such disruptions, including offering refunds or alternative travel arrangements. If travelers choose to travel at a later time, airlines must provide reasonable food, drink, accommodation, and transportation to and from the accommodation. Passengers should check their airline for specific policies in case of cancellations or diversions.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/21/world/europe/london-heathrow-airport-closed.html