Heathrow Airport has resumed full operations following a significant power outage that shut down the airport for almost a day, leading to extensive disruptions for travelers.

On Saturday, Heathrow ordered an inquiry into the incident, which grounded flights and stranded passengers.

Airlines’ Response
British Airways reported that it managed to operate around 90% of its planned flights on Saturday, with expectations of a near-complete schedule on Sunday. Sean Doyle noted that the impact of the outage would be felt for several days as a result.

The facility was preparing for 1,351 flights on Friday, potentially serving up to 291,000 passengers, but many flights were redirected due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation.

Investigation Ordered
In response to the outage, the British energy ministry has tasked the National Energy System Operator with investigating the failure. Heathrow has also appointed Ruth Kelly to review its crisis-management procedures.

Expert Opinions
Industry critics, including Willie Walsh of IATA, have voiced concerns about the planning failures that led to the outage. He remarked that failures like this highlight risks in the management of crucial infrastructure.

Despite the disruptions, most flights throughout Saturday operated successfully, though many airlines like Virgin Atlantic attempted to maintain scheduled operations amid the chaos.

Source: Reuters