LONDON, Friday – A fire at an electrical substation near Heathrow Airport has triggered a major power outage, forcing the temporary closure of one of the world’s busiest airports. Officials have confirmed that Heathrow will remain closed until at least midnight tonight, causing widespread disruption to passengers, airlines, and airport services.
The fire, which broke out earlier today, has led to significant loss of power across airport terminals, grounding operations and halting flights. Emergency services responded swiftly to contain the blaze, but the scale of the outage has had far-reaching consequences.
Friday is typically one of Heathrow’s busiest days, with a high volume of both domestic and international travellers. For example, British Airways alone was scheduled to operate 341 flights today, all of which are now facing delays, cancellations, or redirections.
Passengers are being diverted to other major UK airports including Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Birmingham, and Manchester, causing additional pressure on the national air traffic network and travel infrastructure.
The ripple effect of the outage is also being felt by taxi and private hire drivers, especially those working for airport transfer companies. Many report last-minute cancellations, job diversions, and disrupted schedules, leading to financial losses and logistical challenges.
However, there may be some short-term benefit for Uber and private hire drivers operating near alternative airports such as Manchester, where an influx of redirected passengers is increasing local demand.
“We hope everyone affected is safe and that no serious distress has been caused,” said a local driver. “It’s a tough situation for everyone – holidaymakers, business travellers, and workers alike.”
As investigations into the fire continue, authorities are urging travellers to check with their airlines before heading to the airport and to remain patient as efforts are made to restore power and resume normal operations.
