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Heathrow hosts first Airbus A380 flight from Frankfurt since 2021 due to power outage

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Heathrow hosts first Airbus A380 flight from Frankfurt since 2021 due to power outage
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Airbus A380 | Official Website

On March 21, 2025, London Heathrow Airport welcomed an Airbus A380 Superjumbo from Frankfurt for the first time since 2021. Typically not used for the London-Frankfurt route despite being prominent airports, the A380's operation was necessitated by extraordinary circumstances involving a pandemic and a power outage.

The disruption at Heathrow was triggered by a fire at a nearby electrical substation, resulting in significant power loss. Heathrow issued a statement: "Due to a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport, Heathrow is experiencing a significant power outage. To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23h59 on 21 March. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information. We apologise for the inconvenience." This post was later removed. The following day, flights resumed as usual: "Flights have resumed at Heathrow, and we are open and fully operational. All terminals and all car parks are open across Heathrow."

Qatar Airways operates a fleet of eight A380s, using them for flights from Doha to Heathrow. On March 21st, the usual flight had to divert to Frankfurt due to the disruptions, but later completed its journey to London, landing at 22:38 instead of the usual 06:15. The aircraft then returned to Doha. Etihad Airways also diverted its A380 flight EY61 to Frankfurt, reflecting similar disruptions.

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British Airways last flew A380s between Heathrow and Frankfurt in 2021. In November and December, they operated several flights with the model, but such flights have been exceptions rather than the norm. The Heathrow outage forced several surgeries, including British Airways, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines, among others, to divert or cancel.

The Frankfurt to Heathrow route remains busy, with London and Frankfurt both being major financial hubs. Despite this, the demand usually doesn’t justify using the A380. The Qatar flight was a necessary deviation, not a sign of future regular A380 service.

Throughout the day, 19 A380 arrivals to Heathrow had to find alternative airports. Heathrow's situation on March 21 impacted 10% of the global A380 fleet, out of an estimated 189 in service.

The A380’s large size limits the airports it can serve. Approximately 140 airports can handle it routinely, with 400 capable when needed. In rare circumstances, such as emergencies or unusual events like the Heathrow closure, any airport with a suitable runway may host the A380.

Qatar’s fleet of A380s had been grounded during the pandemic and was only reactivated due to a lack of alternatives. Airbus previously announced the end of the A380's production due to limited demand, and various airlines, including Korean Air, have kept their fleets grounded awaiting replacements. Still, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, and others continue to operate them on longer routes.

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