Flights resumed at Heathrow on Friday afternoon, more than 12 hours after one of the world’s largest airports was forced to suspend operations due to a major power outage.

The functioning of Europe’s busiest airport, and one of the five largest globally, is gradually returning to normal, considering the complexity of its systems.

Heathrow’s CEO, Thomas Woldbye, stated that full operations should be restored by Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, the London Fire Brigade announced that the fire at Heathrow’s power substation is not considered suspicious by the police. As a result, investigations will focus on the electrical equipment.

At around 6 p.m. local time (8 p.m. Greek time), flight BAW35JG landed at Heathrow. The flight had only been a few minutes away from Gatwick, where it had been temporarily redirected while the issue was being resolved.

To facilitate incoming flights, the UK Department for Transport temporarily lifted restrictions on the number of landings permitted at the airport overnight. Normally, the number of takeoffs and landings is minimized between 11:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. to reduce noise levels.

Apology from the Airport Chief

Heathrow’s CEO apologized for the prolonged shutdown but defended the decision, saying, “We cannot be 100% protected.”

“This is unprecedented,” Woldbye said regarding the power outage, expressing regret over the incident.

He explained that the outage was caused by external factors and was equivalent to the power loss of a medium-sized city. “We lost a significant portion of our electricity supply, one of our three substations,” he clarified.

Speaking to Sky News, Woldbye defended the airport’s response when asked if more could have been done to prevent the outage and how a power failure could shut down an entire airport. He reiterated that complete protection against such incidents is impossible.

He added that closing the airport was a last resort and not a decision taken lightly. “It was a very difficult decision,” he admitted, explaining that the airport could not operate safely under those conditions.

Despite the disruption, he assured that normal operations would be restored quickly, considering the thousands of systems involved.

“By tomorrow morning [Saturday], we expect to be fully operational,” he confirmed.

Passenger Disruptions and Frustration

Passengers described their ordeal following Heathrow’s shutdown, reporting delays, cancellations, and a lack of communication.

Sara Mehta, a first-class passenger traveling from Dubai with British Airways, expressed anger at how the airline handled the situation.

Speaking to Sky News, she said she and her husband waited for hours without updates before finally demanding to disembark and retrieve their luggage—two hours after their scheduled departure. “We are first-class passengers, and we were treated terribly,” she said.

“We were flying first class, and now we can’t get home until Tuesday,” she added, noting that other airlines, such as Emirates, had already canceled flights earlier in the day.

Faisal Hamid, a British expat, recounted how his flight from Dubai suddenly made a 180-degree turn without explanation. “Panic started to set in across the cabin until the pilot announced that due to a power outage at Heathrow, we were returning to Dubai,” he said.

He and his two young children, aged one and six, endured a seven-hour journey that was supposed to bring them back to the UK for the first time since summer.

Soaring Hotel Prices Spark Outrage

The unexpected airport shutdown led to a surge in hotel prices near Heathrow, triggering outrage among stranded passengers.

Louis, a 28-year-old traveler scheduled to fly to Dublin, criticized hotels for taking advantage of desperate travelers.

“Prices have doubled, even tripled in some cases. It’s outrageous. They are profiting from people’s misfortune, and I don’t understand how this is allowed,” he said.