Air, Freight News


Heathrow power outage throws airfreight into chaos – updated

[ March 21, 2025   //   ]

Airfreight and passenger travel into the UK has been thrown into chaos by a fire at an electrical substation, which has cut power to the country’s leading gateway. According to reports, more than 1,350 flights are affected by the shut-down with aircraft having to be diverted. However, with limited British airports having only limited spare capacity, many flights are having to land at airports on the Continent.

Counter-terrorism officers from the Metropolitan Police are helping to investigate the cause of the fire but this is described as a precaution and not because of any direct evidence of sabotage. The fire was reported to be still burning at 11am.

The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA), said that pilots and air traffic controllers are rigorously trained to deal with diversions, with every flight taking off with at least one formally nominated alternate aerodrome, and sufficient fuel to get there. However, the situation is complex when mass disruption events like this occur, rather than just a single diversion, because operators have to find a place to land all the displaced aircraft and it will take some days to operations back on track.

The diversions are likely to cause major disruption to the UK supply chain, as Heathrow is the country’s main air cargo gateway, handling some 1.4 million tonnes a year, most of it in the bellyholds of passenger flights. Goods affected include vital spare parts, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and perishables.

Perishables specialist PML Seafrigo, which has facilities at Heathrow (which were not directly affected by the fire) said it would provide companies affected by the shutdown a collection service from alternative UK airports for imported goods. It said it could also move exports to alternative London airports, specifically London Gatwick or Stansted, subject to space and availability. Chief executive for UK and Ireland CEO, Mike Parr, said: “We are keen to help companies affected by this situation, especially those whose consignments comprise perishable goods, where any delay in transfer has a detrimental effect on shelf life. We operate a 24/7 service so we can step in and help immediately, contact our helpline (0)20 8893 2666.”

The British International Freight Association said that while most reporting has focused on the immediate impact on flights, terminals and passengers, there would be a significant on both import and export freight.
For exports the immediate concern is that airline sheds will fill up rapidly and be unable to accept fresh freight deliveries, which will then affect other parties. For imports, freight will not arrive at or be diverted from its original final destination.
It added that its members’ were also  concerned that, as most cargo is carried in the bellyholds of passenger aircraft, when flights to and from Heathrow pent-up passenger demand could  restrict the capacity to move cargo.

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