Heathrow Airport to Restart Limited Flights Today After Massive Power Outage
Heathrow is clawing back from chaos after a major power cut shut the airport down on Friday. A fire at the North Hyde electrical substation in Hayes plunged parts of West London into darkness and brought the world’s busiest UK airport to a grinding halt.
Fire Sparks Widespread Mayhem Across West London
The blaze sparked a blackout that forced Heathrow to cancel over 1,350 flights, stranding an estimated 200,000 passengers and causing travel chaos on a colossal scale. The airport was forced to close for safety after critical systems went offline.
Power Partially Restored — Limited Flights to Resume
National Grid managed an interim power fix earlier today, allowing Heathrow to gradually get back on its feet. However, safety checks and system tests meant the airport stayed closed through most of Friday. Now, a Heathrow spokesperson has confirmed limited flights will start up later:
“Our teams have worked tirelessly since the incident to ensure a speedy recovery. We’re pleased to say we’re now safely able to begin some flights later today.”
First Flights Will Prioritise Repatriation and Aircraft Relocation
Initial departures and arrivals will focus on repatriating stranded passengers and moving aircraft back into position. Travellers are urged not to head to Heathrow unless their airline has told them to:
“Our first flights will be repatriation flights and relocating aircraft. Please do not travel to the airport unless your airline has advised you to do so. We’ll be working with airlines to bring back passengers diverted to other European airports.”
Full Operations Expected by Saturday
Heathrow aims to fully reopen by Saturday, but warns the process is complex. The airport uses as much energy as a small city, so safely restoring services is a slow, careful climb back:
“Our priority remains the safety of our passengers and those working at the airport. We apologise for the inconvenience caused by this incident.”
Travel Advice for Passengers
- If you’re flying from Heathrow this weekend, double-check with your airline before heading to the airport.
- For updates on power and flights, visit the Heathrow Airport website or follow real-time tracking on Flightradar24.
Stay tuned for a follow-up on tomorrow’s full reopening and a handy passenger guide to navigate the aftermath of the disruption.
