A fire outbreak at an electrical substation supplying London’s Heathrow Airport has disrupted air travel between the UK and Ghana, leaving hundreds of Ghanaian passengers stranded and travel plans in disarray.
Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports, was forced to suspend all operations until 11:59 PM GMT on March 21 due to a significant power outage caused by the blaze. The disruption has affected at least two direct British Airways flights between Heathrow and Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra, Ghana.
Thousands of travelers—among them business executives, students, and holidaymakers bound for Ghana—are now facing cancellations, long delays, or rerouting through other European hubs such as Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol.
Heathrow confirmed the shutdown in a public statement, advising travelers to stay away from the airport and to contact their airlines for updates. Flight tracking service Flightradar24 reported a total of 1,357 flights scheduled for the day—679 arrivals and 678 departures—many of which have now been suspended.
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The impact goes beyond passenger inconvenience. The disruption may affect Ghana-UK trade and logistics, as cargo flights and business shipments are delayed or rerouted, potentially disrupting supply chains.
Travelers in Ghana who were scheduled to depart for London today are urged to monitor updates from British Airways and other carriers, as well as consult travel agents for possible rebookings or alternative routes.
Authorities at Kotoka International Airport are coordinating with airlines to manage the fallout, and Ghana’s aviation sector is closely monitoring the situation.
