The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will be reviewing the rules regarding “resilience” following the closure of Heathrow Airport due to a fire at an electricity substation in west London. The fire on Friday affected the airport’s electricity supplies, resulting in the closure of Europe’s largest airport and causing disruptions to around 1,300 flights and 250,000 passengers.
As part of their ongoing review of Heathrow Airport before the next price control period, the CAA will take a close look at the rules regarding resilience. The CAA also stated that they are in close contact with Heathrow Airport and will support the National Energy System Operator’s review, taking into account its findings as well as the airport’s own investigation.
John Pettigrew, the CEO of National Grid, has stated that there was enough power available to keep Heathrow Airport operational during the shutdown. He emphasized that two other substations serving Heathrow were operational and could have provided the necessary power to the airport.
Additionally, airlines may consider taking legal action against Heathrow Airport over the closure. A representative for more than 90 airlines using the airport stated that legal action could be pursued if an agreement on reimbursement for the costs incurred as a result of the closure cannot be reached.
In their review, the CAA aims to set incentives for Heathrow Airport to invest efficiently and provide a high level of service for passengers, with specific targets for quality of service. The review will also assess the regulatory model for Heathrow Airport, particularly the development of a third runway, which the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, has been supporting.
The review will also focus on ensuring strong incentives for the efficient delivery of the significant costs involved in the expansion of Heathrow Airport and how to protect the interests of consumers. This will allow the expansion project to proceed on a more flexible basis and according to a more flexible timeline.
The CAA anticipates constructive engagement between Heathrow Airport and airlines, along with broader discussions on the expansion. Heathrow Airport is expected to submit its business plan by July, which will then be assessed by the regulator.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/mar/27/aviation-watchdog-to-look-at-rules-on-resilience-after-heathrow-closure
