British Airways CEO Sean Doyle acknowledged that the recent incident at the airport will have a significant impact on both the airline and its customers for days to come, resulting in disruptions to journeys anticipated in the near future. The airline aims to operate as many flights as possible from its full Saturday schedule containing nearly 600 departures and arrivals.
The closure caused over 1,300 flights to either be canceled or rerouted on Friday. Heathrow, a major hub for transatlantic travel as well as connections to the Middle East and Asia, had to divert flights to nearby airports such as London Gatwick and even to destinations like Frankfurt.
National Grid UK expressed regret for the disruption caused and mentioned ongoing collaboration with the Government, Heathrow, and the police to investigate the incident's cause. Measures are also being taken to enhance the resilience of the network.
The reopening of the airport came after a chaotic day for travelers with hundreds of flights redirected or canceled. The UK Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command is probing a fire at a nearby power substation that led to the outage, but there is no evidence of foul play so far.
Heathrow advised passengers to check with their airlines for updates on their Saturday flights. The airport added more staff and extra flights to accommodate an additional 10,000 passengers passing through the airport.
British Airways expects to run about 85% of its schedule on Saturday, with power supplies restored to all customers linked to National Grid UK’s North Hyde substation, including Heathrow.
The outage's financial impact is estimated to be between $80 million and $100 million, considering costs like accommodation, food, transportation, and other operational disruptions. The incident raises concerns about the adequacy of Heathrow’s infrastructure and the need for backup systems.
Government officials are closely monitoring the situation, and investigations are ongoing to determine if any suspicious circumstances led to the outage. Despite the challenges faced, Heathrow is continuing its efforts to expand and enhance its operations.
The closure of the airport, due to a fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, caused widespread power outages and affected thousands of residents and businesses. The restoration of power supply to Heathrow took some time, causing inconvenience to travelers and businesses alike.