Heathrow Airport saw a drop of 300,000 passengers in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the same period last year, following a major power outage that forced the near-total closure of operations on March 21.
A fire at the North Hyde substation cut electricity to the airport, leading to the cancellation of over 1,400 flights and affecting around 250,000 travellers.
Despite the setback, Heathrow said overall demand remained in line with 2024’s record performance, with growth expected to resume in the second quarter.
However, average aircraft size and load factors both declined slightly, with three fewer passengers per flight compared to last year.
On a more positive note, punctuality improved, with 80% of flights arriving and departing within 15 minutes of schedule.
Chief financial officer Sally Ding described 2025 as a pivotal year, highlighting plans to unlock new capacity.
Two reviews into the outage, including one led by board member Ruth Kelly, are due to report initial findings in May.