Saturday, March 22, 2025 On Friday, Heathrow Airport , one of the world’s busiest airports, was forced to shut down due to a power outage, disrupting travel for thousands of passengers. The closure, caused by a fire that affected critical airport infrastructure, created chaos in the aviation industry, leading to a ripple effect across global flight networks. The economic fallout from the shutdown is expected to cost airlines a hefty sum — estimates suggest a loss of $80 to $100 million — as flights were canceled or diverted, and rerouting became necessary.
The closure of Heathrow Airport could have been far worse for airlines and passengers alike, as the timing was relatively fortunate. With the power outage at Heathrow Airport occurring before the peak Easter travel season and not during the busy summer months, airlines had some breathing room to manage the chaos. Nevertheless, the financial toll of rerouting flights, accommodating passengers, and reorganizing the airline network is significant.
In this report, we explore the full impact of the Heathrow closure on airlines like British Airways and United Airlines, the challenges they face in restoring flight schedules, and the broader consequences for the aviation industry. The Immediate Impact on British Airways and United Airlines British Airways and United Airlines, two of the largest airlines operating out of Heathrow, were immediately impacted by the airport’s sudden closure. British Airways, which has a signifi.
