Heathro Airport in London is working to restore complete operations on Saturday after a fire at an electrical substation. The first flights are set to depart this evening.
Heathro, who was badly affected by a fire at the nearby power station in the night, announced on Friday that she would resume some flights later during the day. According to Sky News, complete operation is expected to start gradually from Saturday.
Working teams to restore normal status
The airport management said, “Our teams are making tireless efforts to ensure a rapid return in normal operations. Now we are in a position to resume flights.” Passengers have been advised not to travel to Heathro unless their airline is clearly instructed.
Full operations required till Saturday
The statement said, “We aim to restore complete operations till tomorrow and will soon provide further updates. Our highest priority remains the safety of passengers and airport employees. We apologize honestly for any inconvenience due to this incident.”
Shortly thereafter, the British Airways confirmed that flights would resume from Heathro at 7:00 am (CET) at 7:00 pm. The initial departure will include flights to Johannesburg, Singapore, Riyadh, Cape Town, Sydney and Buenos Aires.
Cause of fire under investigation
The fire, which disrupted the operation of the airport, broke at a power station in Hayes, about 2.5 km from Heathro on Friday morning. While the reason is still under investigation, the authorities have denied dishonesty. Although the fire was vested till morning, it is not completely extinguished. In addition to the airport, about 100,000 houses in the surrounding area were left without electricity.
According to Flightradar24, at least 1,350 flights were directly affected in Heathro, about 120 aircraft were forced to land at alternative airports across Britain, Ireland and France.
Meanwhile, London’s Stanstead and Gatwick Airports continue to act as usual.
