Heathrow Criticized for Shutdown Amid Substation Controversy
- By Sarah Young
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uks-heathrow-defends-decision-shut-airport-amid-blame-game-2025-03-24/
More: https://hype.aero/coverage/airlines/?story=a48d4b2c-9f32-4737-a5d0-71ccbcfecc73
#heathrow #aviation
Heathrow never lost access to power... 
(but it did shut down)
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdjy4m0n1exo
#Heathrow #aviation #UK
Heathrow closure: what caused the fire and why did it bring down the whole airport?
The closure of Heathrow Airport has caused chaos, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. More than 1,300 flights have been affected, about 120 of these were already in the air.
A panel of experts offer their insights – and consider the implications of such a major incident.
Airports should implement disaster recovery procedures for at least these reasons:
* Ensure passenger and staff safety.
* Maintain operational continuity.
* Protect critical infrastructure.
* Facilitate emergency response.
* Minimise financial losses.
* Comply with regulations.
Got it #HEATHROW?
The #Energy Secretary has commissioned the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to investigate the power outage that disrupted #Heathrow #Airport and the surrounding area. This follows restoration of power to all affected customers. The investigation aims to understand the incident’s causes and improve the UK’s energy resilience. The government is committed to preventing future disruptions through its Plan for Change, which includes boosting energy security. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband emphasised the importance of learning from the incident to protect critical national infrastructure. NESO will collaborate with stakeholders, including Heathrow, to ensure a thorough review. Initial findings are expected within six weeks.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/neso-to-investigate-heathrow-power-loss
On This Day 22nd March 2018.
A9C-KD, Airbus A330-243, Gulf Air, climbing out of Runway 27 Left at London Heathrow, 22nd March 2018, as seen from the Esso garage on Southern Perimeter Road.
#London #Heathrow #LHR #EGLL #Runway27Left #SouthernPerimeterRoad #EssoGarage #Airbus #A330 #GulfAir #OnThisDay
#AvGeek #aviation #planespotting #photography
A little investigation reveals that perhaps 25% of #Heathrow activity isn't completely useless. Most is simply boredom expressed as kilograms of Jet A converted into kilograms of CO2.
Anyway, restless folk with itchy feet becoming angry because the choices they made resulted in non-existential inconvenience are critical to politicians, so here we are, facing an exaggerated crisis.
If Heathrow was appropriately sized it would certainly be easier to maintain.
Good afternoon. It's 3PM, Saturday, 22nd March. The headlines: #Heathrow #Airport resumes full operations following an unprecedented shutdown caused by a power station blaze, affecting over 1,350 flights. The incident, which led to diversions across Europe, is not deemed suspicious by officials. The Comic Relief telethon has garnered £34m and #boxing icon George Foreman has died aged 76. Three rockets have been launched towards #Israel from southern #Lebanon. #BBC #News
Heathrow Airport ‘fully operational’ after fire sparked travel chaos
More than 1,300 flights were cancelled after an overnight fire at a substation cut power to London Heathrow Airport, and to more than 60,000 properties.
#travel #airport #power #fire #London #Heathrow
https://globalnews.ca/news/11093636/heathrow-fire-flight-disruption/
I assume our airlines will be stumping up to increase the resilience of the electricity grid at #Heathrow.
Heathrow Airport ‘fully operational’ after fire sparked travel chaos
More than 1,300 flights were cancelled after an overnight fire at a substation cut power to London Heathrow Airport, and to more than 60,000 properties.
#travel #airport #power #fire #London #Heathrow
https://globalnews.ca/news/11093636/heathrow-fire-flight-disruption/
Wszystkim złośliwie komentującym po problemach z zasilaniem lotniska #heathrow, wywołanych pożarem stacji transformatorowej, przypominam tylko że w ostatnich latach na skutek awarii stacji zasilania w Polsce, od sieci odcięte zostały wszystkie poza jednym generatory w Belchatowie
Good afternoon. It's 12PM, Saturday, 22nd March. The headlines: #Heathrow Airport is back in service after a power station blaze led to its most extensive shutdown in years, affecting over 1,350 flights. Authorities do not suspect foul play. #Israel escalates its #Gaza campaign, with the military instructed to expand control as casualties near 50,000 and Gaza faces a 19-day blockade. #BBC #News
The closure of #Heathrow yesterday had 200,000 people not flying. If each flight had a climate impact of 1 tCO2 equivalent, then this would be 200,000 tCO2eq of emissions that didn't happen.
A study showed that for every ~4400 tCO2eq one human will die from climate change impact until the year 2100.
200,000/4400=45
Every day of Heathrow operation will kill 45 people in the future. Yesterday saved 45 people's lives.
I wouldn't want to be among the people who now need to explain why there is a single-point-of-failure for critical infrastructure. It might have looked like an acceptable risk at the time. After the fact it looks like a foolish decision.
I'd expect that other subsystems will be scrutinized as well. This looks like a higher level problem.
“‘I want to look my nieces in the eye and say I did everything I could’: eight Just Stop Oil supporters found GUILTY”
by The Canary @thecanaryuk
“During the trial the judge removed all legal defences from the jury’s consideration, ruled the climate emergency to be ‘irrelevant’ and forbade defendants from mentioning that a jury has a right to acquit a defendant as a matter of conscience”
https://www.thecanary.co/uk/news/2025/03/21/just-stop-oil-heathrow-10/?__s=pw3ygmyxve9etudpqdrh
![copy&paste of History>Divestiture> section from Wikipedia article, Heathrow Airport Holdings
In January 2013, it was announced that Stansted would be sold to the Manchester Airports Group, a holding company owned by the 10 borough councils of Greater Manchester.
In May 2014, Heathrow Airport Holdings announced the appointment of John Holland-Kaye, current Development Director, as chief executive officer, succeeding Colin Matthews on 1 July 2014.[15] The company agreed on 16 October 2014 to sell Glasgow, Southampton and Aberdeen airports to AGS Airports, a consortium of Ferrovial and Macquarie Group for £1 billion, in order to focus solely on Heathrow.[16][17]
In January 2024, Ferrovial announced it would sell its shareholding to Ardian and the Public Investment Fund, subject to approval by regulatory bodies and rights which may be exercised by other shareholders.[18][19] On 15 December 2024, it was reported that Ardian and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia have successfully acquired 22.6% and 15% respectively of stakes in Heathrow Airport for a combined US$4.12 billion through Ferrovial and other shareholders in FGP TopCo.[20]](https://kolektiva.social/system/media_attachments/files/114/214/220/596/122/530/original/4586ec6d1d073afc.png "copy&paste of History>Divestiture> section from Wikipedia article, Heathrow Airport Holdings
In January 2013, it was announced that Stansted would be sold to the Manchester Airports Group, a holding company owned by the 10 borough councils of Greater Manchester.
In May 2014, Heathrow Airport Holdings announced the appointment of John Holland-Kaye, current Development Director, as chief executive officer, succeeding Colin Matthews on 1 July 2014.[15] The company agreed on 16 October 2014 to sell Glasgow, Southampton and Aberdeen airports to AGS Airports, a consortium of Ferrovial and Macquarie Group for £1 billion, in order to focus solely on Heathrow.[16][17]
In January 2024, Ferrovial announced it would sell its shareholding to Ardian and the Public Investment Fund, subject to approval by regulatory bodies and rights which may be exercised by other shareholders.[18][19] On 15 December 2024, it was reported that Ardian and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia have successfully acquired 22.6% and 15% respectively of stakes in Heathrow Airport for a combined US$4.12 billion through Ferrovial and other shareholders in FGP TopCo.[20]")
