On Friday, British Airways experienced a significant number of cancellations and diversions, affecting the largest number of flights at Heathrow Airport. However, the airline expects around 85% of its Saturday schedule to run, with only about 90 potential flights facing cancellations or delays. The reopening of Heathrow on Saturday brought relief to stranded travelers, as all 1,332 scheduled flights on Friday were canceled. The airport initially said it would remain closed until late Friday night, but reopened sooner than expected.
The closure was due to a raging fire at a nearby electrical substation, which caused power outages affecting not only Heathrow but also surrounding neighborhoods. The National Grid restored power to all customers, including the airport, and is working with authorities to determine the cause of the fire. While initial speculation involved counter-terrorism officers, British police have found no evidence of foul play.
Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye stated that the fire caused a power loss equivalent to a mid-sized city, and while backup systems worked as designed, they were insufficient to run the entire airport. This incident exposed vulnerabilities in the airport’s contingency planning, highlighting the need for better preparation for such events. Woldbye expressed that incidents of this magnitude are challenging to fully prepare for but emphasized the need for improved planning moving forward.
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