The CEO of Heathrow has defended the airport’s operations following a fire at an electrical substation which led to the cancellation of about 1,300 flights and caused disruptions for hundreds of thousands of travelers worldwide.
This incident follows criticism from Willie Walsh, the director general of the International Air Transport Association, who accused Heathrow of failing both travelers and airlines. Walsh stated that Heathrow has let down travelers and airlines once again.
In response, Heathrow’s CEO, Thomas Woldbye, acknowledged that there are lessons to be learned from Friday’s fire, but argued that many airports do not have separate power plants. He explained that Heathrow consumes as much energy as a city every day and doesn’t have backup power for systems like baggage and air bridges.
Despite this, safety systems were operational, allowing planes to continue to land and depart, but most airport infrastructure came to a standstill. Woldbye emphasized that the incident was significant and not a minor issue.
British Airways, one of the main airlines operating at Heathrow, expects to operate only around 85% of its scheduled flights on Saturday, with significant delays expected. The airline will prioritize high-frequency routes for cancellations.
Virgin Atlantic also issued an apology for the disruption and plans to operate a near-full schedule on Saturday, with minimal cancellations. The airline stated that Heathrow’s closure on Friday has affected today’s flying program.
The government has raised questions about the fire and launched an investigation, with counter-terrorism police leading the inquiry. Police believe the fire is more likely to have been accidental rather than the result of criminal activity or an act of sabotage.
The government spokesperson stated that once the situation is under control, there will be an inquiry into how the incident occurred and how to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/22/heathrow-boss-defends-running-of-airport-after-criticism-of-shutdown
