Power Outage at London’s Heathrow Airport Disrupts Flights
[SINGAPORE] Most flights operating between Singapore and London’s Heathrow Airport resumed on Mar 22, following a significant power outage that shut down the British capital’s main airport, leaving thousands of passengers and planes stranded.
Flights Resume, Cancellations and Delays
According to data from flight analytics firm Cirium, three out of four Heathrow-bound flights operated by Singapore Airlines (SIA) and scheduled to depart from Changi Airport on Mar 22 will proceed as planned. While Flight SQ306, scheduled to depart at 1.10 am, was cancelled, SQ308, which was set to leave at 9 am, and SQ318, scheduled for 12.45 pm, departed from Changi as planned. Flight SQ322 is scheduled to leave at 11.45 pm.
Singapore Airlines Flights Affected
Two Singapore-bound SIA flights from Heathrow on Mar 22 have been cancelled, while two others are set to depart as scheduled, according to Cirium’s data.
Investigation Underway
A fire at a nearby substation knocked out power at the world’s fifth-busiest airport, with flights resuming hours later on Mar 21 (Mar 22 morning Singapore time). The incident has prompted aviation experts and airlines to question how such critical infrastructure could fail.
Other Airlines Affected
Two SIA flights that left Singapore for Heathrow on Mar 20 and 21 were diverted – one to Frankfurt, Germany, and the other to Paris, France – while four scheduled for departure on Mar 21 and 22 were cancelled. Four Singapore-bound flights from Heathrow on Mar 21 were also cancelled.
British Airways and Qantas Operations
British Airways (BA) and Australian carrier Qantas also operate flights between Singapore and Heathrow Airport. According to Cirium’s data, BA16 and BA12 departed from Singapore on the night of Mar 21 as planned.
Conclusion
The power outage at Heathrow Airport caused significant disruptions to flights, but most operations have now resumed. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for any further updates on their flights.
FAQs
Q: What caused the power outage at Heathrow Airport?
A: A fire at a nearby substation knocked out power at the airport.
Q: How many flights were affected by the power outage?
A: Thousands of passengers and planes were stranded, with many flights cancelled or delayed.
Q: When did flights resume?
A: Most flights resumed on Mar 22.
Q: Which airlines were affected?
A: Singapore Airlines, British Airways, and Qantas were among the airlines affected.
Q: What is the current status of flights?
A: Most flights have resumed, with some cancellations and delays still reported.
