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United Airlines issuing travel waivers due to London Heathrow Airport closures

United Airlines issuing travel waivers due to London Heathrow Airport closures
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Webp scott kirby ceo of united airlines
​Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines | Linkedin

United Airlines has announced the issuance of travel waivers for passengers whose flights were affected by closures at London Heathrow Airport. The announcement was made on X on March 22.

According to The Guardian, a fire at an offsite electrical substation on March 20, 2025, caused a significant power outage that led to the complete closure of London Heathrow Airport. This disruption impacted over 1,350 flights and approximately 300,000 passengers. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has initiated an urgent investigation into the incident.

As reported by The Wall Street Journal, airlines resumed operations at Heathrow on March 22 after an 18-hour shutdown. Despite the reopening, delays and cancellations persisted as airlines worked to reposition aircraft and manage crew duty-time restrictions. British Airways aimed to operate 85% of its usual schedule but anticipated further delays.

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According to United Airlines' official travel alerts, the airline issued a travel waiver for customers affected by the Heathrow closure. Impacted travelers could reschedule their trips without incurring change fees or fare differences, with options to reroute through Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, or Edinburgh. The new flights had to depart between March 28 and April 3, 2025.

Per The New York Times, the fire began on March 20 at 11:23 PM GMT at the North Hyde electrical substation in Hayes, London. Emergency services responded with ten fire engines and 70 firefighters. The blaze was fueled by 25,000 liters of cooling oil and continued burning at a reduced level into the following day.

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