Heathrow Airport Fire Causes Major Disruption – What Passengers Should Do Now

Written By Joanna Teljeur

3 minutes read
Last Updated: April 24, 2025

A fire at an electrical substation near Heathrow Airport (LHR) has caused the airport to suspend all flight operations on Friday, 21 March 2025. This has led to widespread flight cancellations, delays, and diversions. So far, the shutdown has affected roughly 300,000 passengers, making it one of the most disruptive incidents for Heathrow since 2010.

If you are one of the many passengers whose flights are affected, it’s important to understand what your airline owes you and the steps you should take to protect your travel plans. So, we’ll explain what you need to know and do if your flight is cancelled, delayed, or rerouted.

What Should You Do if Your Flight is Affected by the Heathrow Closure?

If you have a flight arriving, departing or connecting at Heathrow, your flight will likely be delayed, cancelled, or diverted to a different airport.

Flights Cancelled

If your flight has been cancelled, the airline is obligated to offer you a refund or a rebooking to your destination without extra charges. So, contact your carrier and request these if they haven’t already been offered. 

Also, if you are rebooked on a flight departing from a different airport, your airline must cover the cost of transport to that location. As well, you are entitled to meals and refreshment vouchers if you are forced to wait at the airport for 2 hours or more.  

Passengers who are forced to wait overnight should be given hotel lodging and transportation there and back to the airport.

If you have not begun their journey, you might want to consider rebooking your flight in a few days, as knock-on flight disruptions will probably continue through the weekend. 

Delayed Flights

The Heathrow closure has already caused numerous delays across the region. For any flight delay, lasting for 5 or more hours, the airline must offer a refund or a rebooking, according to EU and UK air passenger rights regulations EU261 and UK261. 

Connections through Heathrow

If you had a connecting flight through LHR, contact your airline immediately to see about getting rebooked on another flight to your destination. 

Can You Get Compensation for Disruptions Caused by the Heathrow Closure?

Airlines are only required to make compensation payouts when they are to blame for the flight disruptions. Because the fire leading to the closure at Heathrow was clearly beyond the airline’s control, it is unlikely that you will be eligible for repayment. 

Many flights will be affected by this situation, but if your travel doesn’t directly involve Heathrow, you might be eligible. You can always find out if your flight qualifies and how much compensation you could collect by using a compensation calculator.  

Steps to Take if Your Flight is Affected 

Representatives at Heathrow have advised passengers not to travel to the airport, so if you are in that area, stay at home or at your hotel until it has reopened. You can also take the following steps:

1. Contact your carrier. Check airline apps and websites to stay abreast of the situation as it unfolds. If you need to rebook or get refunded, try contacting the airline on social media channels if you can’t get through by phone or chat.
2. Check with your travel insurance policy to see it will cover the costs of missed travel related to the Heathrow closure.
3. Document everything. Keep receipts, all travel documents, boarding passes, and correspondence with the airline. You will need this to submit in the form of a compensation or insurance claim.
4. Request assistance at the airport. If you are stuck anywhere in Europe as a result of delays and cancellations, ask the carrier to provide meals and lodging appropriate for your specific situation.

Bottom Line

The Heathrow International Airport closure will likely have an effect on flights for days to come. So if you are already en route, check your airline’s app for updates. If you haven’t begun your trip, reach out to the airline to learn about your options. 

Hopefully, your travel plans will not be impacted, but if they are, remember that AirAdvisor is always here to help.