LONDON: Heathrow Airport has announced a gradual recovery after a major power outage disrupted operations, leaving thousands of travelers stranded. Airport officials confirmed that some flights would resume today, with repatriation flights and aircraft relocations prioritized. A full operational return is expected by tomorrow.
Limited Flights Restart
Heathrow’s official statement assured passengers that teams had been working tirelessly to restore normal operations. However, they urged travelers not to visit the airport unless advised by their airline. The primary focus will be on repatriating passengers who were diverted to other European airports due to the outage.
British Airways, Heathrow’s biggest airline, canceled all short-haul flights to and from the airport today. Additionally, most of its long-haul flights were also grounded. The disruption has affected thousands of passengers, creating significant travel chaos.
Challenges for British Airways
One major issue is that several planes and crew members are now located at airports where they were not originally scheduled to be. Doyle explained that strict working hour limits for airline staff mean BA must find new teams to operate certain flights. This adds another layer of complexity to the recovery process.
Doyle assured passengers that British Airways is working to minimize disruptions but warned that delays would persist in the coming days. The airline is coordinating with Heathrow Airport and relevant authorities to restore operations as efficiently as possible.
Concerns About Heathrow’s Resilience
Ruth Cadbury, chair of the Transport Select Committee and Member of Parliament for Brentford near Heathrow, raised serious concerns about the airport’s infrastructure resilience. She questioned whether Heathrow was too reliant on a single power substation.
Cadbury highlighted an ongoing issue in West London related to grid capacity. The boroughs of Hounslow, Hillingdon, and Ealing face energy challenges due to the high electricity consumption of local data centers. She suggested that Heathrow’s power failure might be linked to broader infrastructure weaknesses in the region.
Cadbury emphasized that these concerns must be addressed to prevent similar disruptions in the future. She confirmed that the Transport Select Committee will hold a session to investigate Heathrow’s response to the crisis and assess the airport’s overall resilience.
Further Investigation and Next Steps
Heathrow Airport acknowledged the delays and apologized for the inconvenience caused to travelers. Officials reiterated that safety remains the top priority, and efforts are being made to restore full operations as soon as possible.
The airport is also working closely with airlines to ensure that diverted passengers reach their intended destinations as quickly as possible. Travelers are advised to check with their airlines for updates before heading to the airport.
As the busiest airport in Europe, Heathrow consumes as much energy as a small city. Airport authorities emphasized that restoring full functionality requires time, careful planning, and safety checks.
Meanwhile, experts and officials will continue examining the causes of the outage and whether Heathrow has sufficient backup systems in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Passengers impacted by the disruptions have been urged to stay patient and follow their airline’s guidance regarding rebooking and compensation. Airlines, including British Airways, have assured affected travelers that they are working on providing alternative travel arrangements.
Conclusion
While Heathrow is taking steps toward normal operations, the full impact of the outage will be felt for several days. The incident has also sparked wider discussions about the airport’s resilience and the need for stronger infrastructure safeguards.
Travelers are advised to stay updated with official airport and airline announcements to avoid unnecessary trips and further disruptions.
