What to Know if Your Heathrow Flight Was Canceled or Diverted

At least 1,300 flights in and out of London’s Heathrow Airport were disrupted on Friday as the airport, Europe’s busiest, was shut down after a major nearby fire caused a power outage.

More flights are expected to be canceled or delayed in the coming days as airlines navigate the ripple effects of the airport’s closure, which is affecting air travel worldwide. About 220,000 passengers had been expected to travel through Heathrow on Friday, according to Flightrader24, the live flight tracking service.

Heathrow said it had no choice but to keep the airport closed until 11.59 p.m. on Friday. “We know this will be disappointing for passengers, and we want to reassure that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation,” an airport spokesman said in a statement.

If your travel has been affected by the closure, here’s what you need to know.

Should I go to the airport?

Passengers scheduled to travel in and out of Heathrow have been advised not to go to the airport, and to contact their airline for further information.

On Friday, the police turned away passengers trying to reach Heathrow, and cars in the area were diverted.

Most major airlines have updated information on their websites with details about flight disruptions and instructions for rescheduling canceled flights. You can also check their social media channels for updates.