• March 21, 2025

Heathrow Airport closed for One day after power outage: Malayalees stranded: Gatwick starts accepting flights

Heathrow Airport closed for One day after power outage: Malayalees stranded: Gatwick starts accepting flights

LONDON March 21: Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, has announced a complete shutdown on Friday due to a significant power outage caused by a large fire at a nearby electrical substation.

The closure is expected to last until midnight, leading to substantial disruptions in global travel as flights are being forced to turn back or divert to other locations.

“There will be more than a thousand Malayalees affected as a result of this”, Sasi Nair of Neil Travels, a travel agent based in London informed this website.

“This weekend was also a start of the the holiday season and thus bookings had picked up last week”, he added.

“With just one day of Heathrow airport closure it is going to have a knock on effect with several flights cancelled or diverted to other airports causing disruptions elsewhere”, he said.

The fire, which occurred at a transformer within the electrical substation in Hayes, West London, has not only impacted Heathrow Airport but has also resulted in power loss for thousands of homes and the evacuation of approximately 150 people. While the situation is being addressed, the effects of the fire and subsequent power outage are expected to continue causing delays and disruptions throughout the day.

Passengers scheduled to travel through Heathrow Airport on Friday are advised to check with their airlines for updates on flight statuses and potential alternative arrangements.

London Gatwick Airport has just shared a new statement confirming it is offering support by “accepting diverted flights as required”.

“Flights are operating from London Gatwick as normal today,” the airport added.

It said it has already “accepted seven diverted flights originally scheduled to land at Heathrow”.

According to flight tracking website Flightradar24, at least 1,351 flights to and from Heathrow Airport could be cancelled on Friday due to the power outage caused by the nearby electrical substation fire. The cancellations are expected to impact numerous airlines, including Air India, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, and United Airlines.
Some airlines have already announced flight cancellations and diversions. United Airlines has confirmed that seven of its flights returned to their origin or diverted to other airports, while Emirates announced the cancellation of all flights from Dubai International Airport to Heathrow on Friday.

Airports and airlines are working to reduce the impact of Heathrow’s closure on passengersby:

Diverting flights: Airlines have started diverting inbound flights to other airports, such as Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton, to ensure passengers can still reach their destinations.

Offering alternative travel arrangements: Airlines are offering passengers the option to change their travel dates or rebook flights at no additional cost.

Providing refunds: Passengers whose flights have been canceled are eligible for refunds or compensation, helping to mitigate the financial impact on travelers.

Coordinating with local authorities: Airports and airlines are working closely with local authorities and transportation providers to ensure smooth and safe travel for affected passengers.