Heathrow Airport closed: what are your rights and can you claim compensation?
A RAGING fire at a west London electrical substation has plunged Heathrow Airport into darkness, causing it to close completely for the day and sparking travel mayhem.
Over 1,300 flights have been grounded, with scenes of chaos unfolding as holidaymakers and business travellers alike face massive disruption.
The inferno erupted late Thursday night at the North Hyde substation, which supplies power to the airport.
More than 100 residents were evacuated as 70 firefighters battled the towering flames, and thousands of homes remain without power.
The airport said it was among those impacted by the power outage.
Heathrow, Britain’s largest and busiest airport, has warned of “significant disruption” in the coming days, urging passengers not to travel to the airport until further notice.
The airport remains closed, with no confirmed time for reopening.
Today’s closure will affect more than 1,350 flights to and from Heathrow – including 679 scheduled to land and 678 due to take off from the airport.
Heathrow is the UK’s largest airport, with more than 83.9million passengers travelling through its terminals in 2024.
The closure will have a ripple effect across the globe, impacting connecting flights and causing headaches for travellers worldwide.
Thousands of passengers impacted by the closure may be wondering whether they are eligible for compensation.
We’ve outlined your rights in these circumstances.
Am I entitled to compensation if my flight is cancelled?
If a flight you’re booked on is delayed or cancelled you may be entitled to compensation, according to the Civil Aviation Authority.
Under UK law, airlines are required to pay compensation to passengers when their flights are delayed or cancelled.
However, you only have the right to compensation in some circumstances.
There are two key factors:
- How severely you have been inconvenienced – for instance, if you have only been delayed slightly, you may not be entitled to compensation
- The cause of the delay – if the delay was caused by an “extraordinary circumstance” you will not be entitled to compensation.
Unfortunately for passengers due to travel today, airlines will largely view today’s circumstances as out of their control.
This would qualify as an “extraordinary circumstance” and justify their move not to pay out to affected customers.
However, if your cancelled flight falls under UK law, your airline is obligated to either provide you with a refund should you no longer wish to travel, or arrange for you to be rebooked on an alternative flight.
SUN TRAVEL EDITOR GIVES HER VIEW
By Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
HEATHROW’S closure is likely to cause massive disruption in the coming days as more than 200,000 impacted passengers struggle to get to their destination.
The last time Heathrow was closed for such a significant period was more than 15 years ago when a huge snowstorm closed all runways back in December 2010.
Then, more than 4,000 flights were cancelled over five days.
Today alone, 1,351 flights were due to take off and land at the UK’s largest airport.
More than 120 flights were already in the air and on their way to Heathrow when the fire broke out.
Planes have been diverted to airports across the UK and Europe.Those who managed to land at a UK airport should count themselves lucky as they can at least continue their journey back to Heathrow via road or rail.
But it is going to cause significant disruption for hundreds of thousands of travellers today and in the coming days.
Right now, the airport and airlines are in crisis mode but in the coming weeks, no doubt questions will be asked as to how we can protect critical infrastructure and prevent this happening again.
What are my rights to a refund or alternative flight?
You can get your money back for all parts of the ticket you haven’t used.
For instance, if you have booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket back from your airline.
If you are a transfer passenger and you have already completed part of your journey, you are also entitled to a flight back to your original departure point when your connecting flight is cancelled and you decide not to continue your journey.
If you still want to travel, your airline must find you an alternative flight.
It’s up to you whether to fly as soon as possible after the cancelled flight, or at a later date that suits you.
Although most airlines will book you onto another of their flights to the same destination, if an alternative airline is flying there significantly sooner or other suitable modes of transport are available then you may have the right to be booked onto that alternative transport instead.
If you do take an alternative flight, you’re entitled to care and assistance while you wait, which usually means refreshments, access to communications.
You may also be entitled to accommodation and the necessary transfers if the flight is delayed until the next day or later and you’re stranded.
If your airline advises you to make alternative travel arrangements and claim back the cost later, you should incur reasonable costs and keep all receipts.
You should discuss this with your airline.
Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?
If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.
Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.
Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.
If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.