Heathrow Airport has announced that it will begin operating limited flights later today, following a major power outage that forced the airport to close on Friday (March 21) after a fire at a nearby electrical substation.

The blaze, which erupted at Hayes’ North Hyde substation, plunged parts of West London into darkness and triggered the cancellation of over 1,350 flights, affecting an estimated 200,000 passengers and causing widespread travel disruption.

Interim Power Restored, Operations to Gradually Resume

Although power was partially restored earlier today through an interim fix by National Grid, the airport remained closed for most of the day to ensure safety protocols were met and critical systems were tested.

In a statement issued this evening, a Heathrow Airport spokesperson confirmed:

"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."

Initial Flights Focused on Repatriation

Airport authorities confirmed that initial departures and arrivals will prioritise repatriation flights and aircraft relocations. Travellers have been urged not to travel to the airport unless they have been explicitly advised to do so by their airline.

"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," the statement continued.
"We will now work with the airlines on repatriating the passengers who were diverted to other airports in Europe."

Full Operations Expected to Resume Saturday

Heathrow Airport says it aims to resume full operations by Saturday, with further updates to be issued throughout the evening. The airport also stressed the complexity of returning to full capacity, noting that it consumes as much energy as a small city, making a safe recovery process both critical and gradual.

"Our priority remains the safety of our passengers and those working at the airport," the spokesperson added. "We apologise for the inconvenience caused by this incident."

Advice for Passengers

Passengers scheduled to travel from Heathrow over the weekend are strongly advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates before heading to the airport.

For more information on power restoration and affected flights, visit the Heathrow Airport website or consult Flightradar24 for real-time flight tracking.

Would you like a follow-up article on tomorrow’s full reopening or a passenger advice guide summarizing travel tips post-disruption?

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