An interim report examining the power outage that closed London Heathrow Airport is scheduled for publication Thursday. The disruption on March 21, caused by a fire at a nearby electricity substation, grounded flights and affected more than 270,000 passenger journeys.
Following the incident, the National Energy System Operator (NESO) was directed by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband to investigate and provide initial findings within six weeks. The NESO North Hyde Review Interim Report will detail the timeline of events and outline responsibilities of stakeholders involved.
The report also aims to identify areas needing further investigation for the final report, expected by the end of June 2025.
The outage highlighted previous concerns regarding the airport's power supply resilience. Nigel Wicking, chief executive of the Heathrow Airline Operators Committee, which represents airlines using the airport, told a Transport Select Committee hearing last month that he raised concerns about power supply issues before the March shutdown.
Wicking cited prior incidents involving theft of wire and cable around the power supply, one of which affected runway lights for a period. Heathrow disputed any link between those incidents and the substation fire, stating the comparison was irresponsible.
The shutdown resulted in estimated costs ranging from £60 million to £100 million for airlines. The incident also temporarily impacted the United Kingdom's supply chains, affecting the transport of goods valued at over £543 million, according to Parcelhero estimates cited by Europa Air & Sea.
Heathrow handles a large portion of UK air cargo, including perishable foods, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. While some cargo was rerouted during the closure, the airport's quick return to operation within 48 hours was noted positively by some in the industry.
The incident renewed discussion on the reliance of critical infrastructure, like a major international airport, on a single power source and prompted calls for enhanced resilience through investment in other airports. While regional airports may lack widebody capacity or diverse carrier options, proposals for developing facilities at Gatwick, Luton, and the East Midlands Freeport have been mentioned as steps to diversify air cargo handling options and reduce reliance on Heathrow Airport.
Angus Hind, Director of Europa Air & Sea, acknowledged the issues but maintained that Heathrow remains the most capable option for British trade due to its existing facilities and teams. "The response by the Heathrow Airport team and airline handling sheds was impressive to say the least," Hind said.