Singapore Airlines cancels flights to and from London's Heathrow after airport closure
Two SIA flights have been diverted to Paris and Frankfurt.
People walk past a departure board displaying Singapore Airlines SQ318 flight to London Heathrow as cancelled at Singapore Changi Airport in Singapore on Mar 21, 2025. Britain's Heathrow airport, Europe's busiest, was shut down early Mar 21 after a major fire at an electrical substation supplying power to the sprawling facility west of London, officials said. (Photo: AFP/Roslan RAHMAN)
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SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines (SIA) has cancelled several flights to and from London's Heathrow Airport, which will be closed all day on Friday (Mar 21) after a large fire at an electricity substation knocked out power at Britain's busiest airport.
In response to CNA's queries, SIA said eight flights were affected - either cancelled or diverted.
Flight SQ322, which departed Singapore on Thursday, was diverted to Frankfurt Airport in Germany.Â
SQ306, which departed Singapore on Friday, was diverted to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.
SQ308, which also departed Singapore on Friday, returned to Changi Airport, landing at 4.23pm. "The flight will subsequently be cancelled," SIA said.
Flight SQ318, which was scheduled to depart Singapore at 12.45pm on Friday, was cancelled.
Four flights from Heathrow to Singapore - SQ305, SQ317, SQ319 and SQ321 - which had been scheduled for Friday, were cancelled, said SIA.
When asked why SQ322 and SQ306 had diverted to Frankfurt and Paris respectively, rather than to other airports in the United Kingdom, SIA said: "Singapore Airlines closely monitored the situation and diverted the flights to the most appropriate alternative airports that are capable of handling them and supporting our customers."
Heathrow airport authorities said they "expect significant disruption" over the coming days, with hundreds of flights and thousands of passengers affected.
"Passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens," the airport said.
Online flight tracking service Flightradar24 said Heathrow's closure would affect at least 1,351 flights to and from the airport.
It said 120 flights to the airport were in the air when the closure was announced.
"SIA will provide all necessary assistance to the affected passengers, including providing hotel accommodation, and reaccommodating them on alternative flights or land transport," Singapore's flag carrier said.
It added that other SIA flights between Singapore and London Heathrow may be affected, and customers are advised to visit SIA's website for more information on the status of their flights.
"The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority. SIA apologises to all customers for the inconvenience caused."
SIA subsequently said that it will arrange land transport to London for customers who were diverted to Frankfurt and Paris, where required, if that is their final destination. The airline will also rebook passengers travelling beyond London on alternative flights, it said.
"Customers on cancelled flights will be offered hotel accommodation and rebooked on the next available flights where necessary. Alternatively, they may opt for a full refund of the unused portion of their ticket if they choose not to travel," SIA added.
