DUBAI: Flights between the UAE and London Heathrow Airport have resumed following a day-long suspension caused by a fire at Terminal 2.
Dubai-based Emirates and Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways have confirmed they are progressively reinstating their schedules, ensuring smoother travel for thousands of affected passengers.
The incident, which occurred on 21 March, led to the UK’s busiest airport shutting down operations for over 16 hours. Emergency services swiftly responded, and while no injuries were reported, the resulting power outage caused significant disruption.
The shutdown forced more than 1,300 flights to be cancelled, with some diverted to alternative European airports, affecting over 200,000 travellers.
UAE airlines resume operations
Following Heathrow’s reopening, Emirates announced the resumption of flight operations, starting with EK07 from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to London Heathrow (LHR) on 22 March. The airline assured passengers with confirmed bookings that they could now proceed with their journeys as planned. “Customers whose flights were cancelled can contact their booking agent or Emirates for rebooking options,” the airline stated.
Etihad Airways also confirmed that it would progressively restore its full flight schedule between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Heathrow. The airline urged passengers to check their flight status online and ensure their contact details were updated for real-time notifications. Given the backlog of disrupted flights, Etihad advised travellers to allow extra time at Heathrow, where its staff were actively assisting affected customers.
What caused the fire at Heathrow?
Heathrow Airport officials have deployed additional staff and added extra flights to accommodate an estimated 10,000 displaced passengers. Last year, an average of 229,000 travellers passed through its terminals daily, making it the UK’s largest aviation hub.
The fire, which broke out at an electrical substation near the airport, caused widespread power failures, paralysing Terminal 2 and affecting various operations.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed there was no suspicion of foul play, but investigations into the electrical distribution system are ongoing.
British Airways, Heathrow’s largest carrier, stated that 85 percent of its nearly 600 scheduled flights would operate on 23 March, but delays remained likely. The airline cancelled select flights on high-frequency routes, allowing passengers more rebooking options.
Wider impact of the disruption
The operational halt on 21 March resulted in the cancellation of all 1,332 scheduled flights for the day, causing an estimated Dh95 million ($26 million) in daily losses. Some of the busiest affected routes included Dubai (4,500 scheduled seats), New York JFK (5,300 seats), and Frankfurt (3,000 seats), according to aviation data provider OAG.
The UK’s energy regulator, Ofgem, has announced an investigation to assess the cause of the substation fire and evaluate measures to prevent future disruptions. Restrictions on overnight flights have been temporarily lifted to ease congestion at Heathrow, while airlines continue to adjust schedules.
As flights resume, passengers have been advised to stay updated with their airlines for the latest information. With ongoing efforts to clear the backlog, operations at Heathrow are expected to stabilise over the coming days.