Airlines Offer Travel Waivers Following London Heathrow Shutdown

Heathrow Airport to resume some flights after fire

Airlines Offer Travel Waivers Following London Heathrow Shutdown

Airlines are granting travel waivers following the closure of London Heathrow Airport, which is set to reopen on Friday, according to airport officials.

Leading airlines have announced policy changes to accommodate travelers affected by the disruption at Heathrow, one of the world's busiest airports.

Delta, American, and United Airlines posted travel waivers on their official websites after an electrical substation fire near the airport caused a "significant power outage" across Heathrow. The outage resulted in an extended airport shutdown, though authorities later confirmed that operations would resume.

"Our teams have worked tirelessly since the incident to ensure a speedy recovery. We’re pleased to say we’re now safely able to begin some flights later today. Our first flights will be repatriation flights and relocating aircraft," a Heathrow spokesperson stated.

Before the incident, Heathrow had anticipated handling 291,000 passengers across 1,351 flights on Friday, as reported by Reuters.

American Airlines American Airlines is allowing passengers scheduled to travel to or from London Heathrow on Friday to rebook their flights without incurring certain change fees. Eligible travelers must have purchased their tickets by March 20 and had travel plans for March 21 or March 22. Rebooked flights must take place between March 22 and March 26, with rescheduled travel required to be completed within a year from the original ticket purchase date.

Travelers must maintain the same fare class and destination; otherwise, they will be responsible for any fare difference.

Delta Air Lines Delta has waived fees for customers rescheduling their flights for travel on or before March 26, provided they remain in the originally booked cabin. If passengers alter their itinerary, they must cover any fare differences.

Those unable to rebook under these terms may cancel their reservation and apply the unused ticket value toward a new ticket purchase within one year of the initial booking date, according to Delta.

JetBlue Airlines JetBlue issued a statement on its website informing passengers that all flights arriving at and departing from Heathrow had been canceled. The airline also warned that "additional flights may be scheduled once the airport reopens to accommodate affected passengers."

United Airlines United is offering free flight rescheduling, with new departure dates required to fall between March 20 and March 28. Rescheduled flights must be within the originally booked cities or one of the following alternative destinations: Amsterdam, Netherlands; Brussels, Belgium; Paris, France; or Edinburgh, Great Britain.

Virgin Atlantic Virgin Atlantic assured passengers that it is providing "flexible options" to those impacted. Customers can choose to rebook on the next available flight, postpone their journey, or change their destination within the airline’s direct network. Additionally, passengers who wish to cancel are eligible for a refund.