Key points
- Heathrow fire halts many Africa-UK flights
- Thousands of African travellers stranded
- Airlines warn disruptions may last days
TRAVEL between the UK and several African countries has been thrown into chaos following a massive fire at an electrical substation near London’s Heathrow Airport. The fire caused a widespread power outage on Friday, leading to hundreds of cancelled and delayed flights and leaving thousands of passengers stranded, including many travelling to and from Africa.
According to airport officials, the blaze, which broke out early in the morning, severely disrupted operations at Terminals 2 and 3, where many international flights to Africa depart and arrive. Heathrow is one of the busiest hubs for flights between the UK and African destinations, with major airlines like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Kenya Airways operating key routes.
Significant impact on Africa-UK travel
British Airways, one of the airlines most affected, confirmed the cancellation of multiple flights to cities such as Johannesburg, Lagos, Accra, and Nairobi. In a statement, the airline said: ‘We are experiencing significant disruption due to the fire at Heathrow and are working hard to support customers whose travel plans have been affected.’
Kenya Airways also issued a travel advisory, warning passengers to expect delays and advising travellers not to proceed to the airport unless they have confirmed re-bookings. ‘We are coordinating closely with Heathrow Airport authorities to resume normal operations as soon as possible,’ the airline said.
Speaking to AFP, airport spokesperson Emma Gilthorpe confirmed that at least 1,300 flights were either cancelled or severely delayed. ‘We regret the disruption caused to all passengers, including those travelling between the UK and Africa. Our teams are working round the clock to restore services,’ she said.
Travellers left stranded and frustrated
For many passengers, the disruption has been deeply frustrating. Primrose Kazunza, a Zimbabwean student trying to return to Harare, told AFP: ‘I found out my flight was cancelled when I got to the check-in desk. There was no prior warning. Now I’m stuck in London, waiting for the next available flight.’
Other travellers echoed the frustration. Marshall Muzamindo, a businessman from Bulawayo, said: ‘I had important meetings scheduled in Johannesburg. This disruption has thrown my entire trip into disarray.’
Airlines urge patience as disruptions continue
Airlines have advised passengers to check their flight status before travelling to Heathrow and offered options for rebooking or refunds. British Airways and Kenya Airways are prioritising passengers stranded in transit and have made arrangements for overnight accommodation where possible.
‘We understand how stressful this situation is and we are doing everything possible to support our customers,’ said a spokesperson for Virgin Atlantic, which has also been impacted.
Long-term effects and recovery efforts
Experts say the fire has exposed the vulnerability of Heathrow’s infrastructure and its wider impact on global travel networks. According to aviation analyst James Woods,
‘When a hub like Heathrow experiences such disruption, the ripple effect is global, but it’s particularly hard on African routes where alternative options are limited.’
Heathrow Airport has announced that full services may take several days to resume. In the meantime, African travellers are advised to stay in close contact with their airlines and monitor updates from Heathrow.
A blow to already strained travel routes
The disruption comes at a time when Africa-UK travel was beginning to recover from the pandemic’s impact. The sudden delays and cancellations risk undermining confidence among travellers who rely on direct connections between the two regions.
As of Saturday, Heathrow management confirmed that emergency services had contained the fire and restored power to some areas, but the backlog of affected flights will take time to clear.
