London’s Heathrow airport closed. Airlines share advice with passengers

A fire at an electrical substation caused the closure of London’s Heathrow Airport on Friday causing major travel disruption around the world.

Heathrow, the U.K.’s biggest airport and a global travel hub, will remain closed until 11:59 p.m on Friday, the airport said, with disruption expected to affect hundreds of flights.

According to flight tracker site Flight Radar, 679 flights were scheduled to land at Heathrow on Friday, while 678 flights were scheduled to take off from the airport.

Here’s what airlines have been telling passengers due to fly into or out of the airport:

British Airways advised customers not to travel to the airport until further notice.

“This will clearly have a significant impact on our operation and our customers and we’re working as quickly as possible to update them on their travel options for the next 24 hours and beyond,” a statement said.  

“Where possible, we’re redirecting inbound flights already on their way to Heathrow to other UK airports.”

A spokesperson for Singapore Airlines (SIA) said a number of its flights had been impacted by the disruption.

Flight SQ322, which left Singapore on Thursday, was diverted to Frankfurt, while flight SQ306, which took off from Singapore on Friday, was diverted to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France. Another flight that took off on Friday returned to Singapore.

Flight SQ318 out of Singapore has been canceled, the spokesperson added, as have many of the airline’s planned departures out of Heathrow.

“SIA will provide all necessary assistance to the affected passengers, including providing hotel accommodation, and reaccommodating them on alternative flights or land transport,” the spokesperson said. “Other SIA flights between Singapore and London Heathrow may be affected.”

Emirates said on Friday that it had canceled six flights into and out of Heathrow.

“Passengers connecting onto the flights to London Heathrow will not be accepted for travel until further notice at the point of origin,” the airline said in a statement. “We’re monitoring the situation closely and will update our customers as the situation develops.”

Travelers due to fly in or out of Heathrow with Emirates can rebook to travel to other U.K. airports, or travel on a later date, the airline said.

 Cathay Pacific said flights CX239 and CX253 from Hong Kong to London on 21 March have been canceled.

“All Cathay flights from London to Hong Kong on 21 March have also been canceled,” it said in a statement. “We are assessing the situation and will keep our customers informed with the latest updates.”

United Airlines said seven of its flights had been diverted or returned to their originating airports due to the closure, adding that all flights to London Heathrow on Friday had been canceled.

“We are working with our customers to offer alternative travel options,” the carrier said in a statement.