Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, has been forced to shut down due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation in Hayes, London. The closure is expected to last until midnight on March 21st, causing disruption to over 1,000 flights. Airlines are scrambling to reconfigure their networks to move planes and crews around to minimize the impact of the closure. Travel experts predict chaotic days ahead as airlines deal with backlog of passengers and flights being diverted to other airports.
The closure of Heathrow will affect at least 1,351 flights, with an additional 120 flights in the air bound for Heathrow having to divert to other airports. Airlines like United Airlines and Qantas Airways have already canceled or diverted flights. The London Fire Brigade is currently at the scene of the fire in Hayes, working to contain the situation. Additionally, nearly 16,300 homes have been impacted by a power outage in the area.
Heathrow was the second-busiest international airport in 2024, handling 48.4 million seats. With the airport shutting down, there are concerns about the long-term impact on airlines’ operations worldwide. The airport spokesperson stated that significant disruption is expected over the coming days and advised passengers not to travel to the airport until operations resume. Eurocontrol has reported that no arrivals are being allowed at Heathrow due to the power outage, and diversion plans are in place for flights. Overall, the closure of Heathrow due to the fire at the substation has major implications for both travelers and the aviation industry.
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