Flights to/from Thailand status, news, and updates

[2dandan]

Counter-terror officers from the Metropolitan Police are leading the investigation into a major fire that has closed Heathrow Airport.
The force said there was "currently no indication of foul play" but officers were retaining an "open mind at this time" into the cause of the blaze.
Flights were cancelled, people evacuated from their homes and local schools shut after two explosions and a fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, west London on Thursday night.
The airport previously warned it would be closed for the whole of Friday, but now says it is "able to begin some flights later today", although people should "not travel to the airport unless your airline has advised you to".
A spokesperson added the first flights would focus on "repatriating the passengers who were diverted to other airports in Europe... and relocating aircraft", with plans "to run a full operation tomorrow".
Follow live updates: Major flight disruption expected as Heathrow closes
A Met spokesperson said its Counter Terrorism Command was leading the investigation due to "the location of the substation and the impact this incident has had on critical national infrastructure".
They added the command has the "specialist resources and capabilities" to progress the investigation "at pace to minimise disruption and identify the cause".
Emergency services were first called to the scene at 23:20 GMT. Video shared on social media showed tall flames and smoke billowing from the substation overnight.
London Fire Brigade (LFB), which is also taking part in the investigation, said the fire involved a transformer containing 25,000 litres (5,500 gallons) of cooling fluid, that had been set alight.

Thousands of homes in the area were left without power as a result, as well as the airport.
National Grid said on X, external while it had restored power to 62,000 customers by 06:00, but some 4,900 homes remained without power.
It told the BBC it expected power to be back on "in hours", but that it was too soon to say exactly when this would be.
At least 1,351 flights to and from Heathrow will be affected on Friday, flight tracking website Flightradar24 said on X, external, with some 120 affected aircraft already in the air when the closure was announced.
The Energy Secretary Ed Miliband told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was an unprecedented event which "appears to have knocked out a back-up generator as well as a substation itself".
Ruth Cadbury, chair of the Commons Transport Committee, said the issue "does raise questions about infrastructure resilience".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg5dg4p2l0o

[pharvey]

A dire situation, but the UK sold out years ago - and let's be fair, it was under a Labour Government in 2006 when the Spanish (amongst others) took control of BAA and ultimately Heathrow Airport. Spain, China, Qatar, Canada and Australia are all part of the "Consortium".

When you think it's National Security on a massive scale, it's a bloody joke!

But, keeping away from politics, it's unbelievably harsh on travellers. I've heard on the news that the vast amount of travellers effected, can't claim on their insurance and may lose all! Apparently this will be classed as an "Extraordinary Event" so they are not covered for the shed load of additional bills.

[Dannie Boy]

A dire situation, but the UK sold out years ago - and let's be fair, it was under a Labour Government in 2006 when the Spanish (amongst others) took control of BAA and ultimately Heathrow Airport. Spain, China, Qatar, Canada and Australia are all part of the "Consortium".

When you think it's National Security on a massive scale, it's a bloody joke!

But, keeping away from politics, it's unbelievably harsh on travellers. I've heard on the news that the vast amount of travellers effected, can't claim on their insurance and may lose all! Apparently this will be classed as an "Extraordinary Event" so they are not covered for the shed load of additional bills.

I’m not sure that’s exactly the case PH - this suggests that you should be able to claim many expenses https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyde870y89o

[Dannie Boy]

It would appear that they’re getting flights back quicker than previously expected.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg5dg4p2l0o

[GroveHillWanderer]

Absolutely terrible for anyone travelling to/from Heathrow and it won’t get much better for quite a few days - at the moment they don’t know how the fire started.

It's not 100% sure yet, but they seem to be leaning towards it being an accident.

Officials and energy experts said a fault in a transformer with 275,000 volts running through it probably sparked a massive, oil-fueled fire

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/21/worl ... ation.html

Even if that does eventually prove to be the case, there still needs to be some serious questions asked about why the backup system was located so close that it was also put out of action by the fire.

[Dannie Boy]

I think the UK has a reputation for shooting itself in the foot (or as in this case, both feet)!!

[pharvey]

There's obviously been a lot of coverage across the media, and things do seem to be pointing towards a combination of aging equipment running over capacity (105% + reported in 2022 so likely increased) and a critical error by an electrical engineer.

Not sure how accurate some of the figures quoted are, but Heathrow's closure is said to cost Britain £20 million/day with over 200,000 passengers and 4,300 tonnes of cargo per day.

With this in mind, it seems incredible that backup equipment at the sub-station(s) is located literally side by side with primary equipment - and as such destroyed in the fire (as mentioned above). It is also reported that Heathrow has it's own designated Biomass Power Plant (and backup diesel generators), but these are only sufficient to power essential systems such as lighting and electric doors.

The power required to operate the airport is mind-blowing - and yet they still talk of expansion when there are obviously major issues to be addressed as this has clearly highlighted.

[Dannie Boy]

There’s some new information coming out suggesting that there was sufficient power to keep Heathrow open, but that the management responsible for Heathrow were the ones who decided to close it, nothing to do with National Grid.

Sounds like another example of “woke” Britain - you’d hope to see someone’s head role for causing such disruption!!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdjy4m0n1exoAnd

[Dannie Boy]

There was mention on a different thread about queues at the airport, well I’m just leaving and I experienced the quickest departure ever from any airport anywhere in the world. Hand luggage check and e-gate passport control completed in less than 5 minutes probably about 3 or 4 - straight to the conveyor belt for hand luggage, came out and direct to the e-gate (first time ever used in Thailand) nobody in front of me passport on the scanner, photo taken and out!!
That’s also the first time I’ve left or entered the country without a stamp in my passport

[Martinoo]

Can this be done with a multiple entry visa??.. so how does that work with the 90 days, same as before, new entrynew start? Just no verification data stamp?

[STEVE G]

^As far as I’m aware, it’s for anyone with an electronically readable passport, there aren’t any mention on signs about visa types.
I’ve done it several times now and it’s a big improvement on what was there before and obviously they’re used to people not having exit stamps.

[Martinoo]

Thanks for the info. So I assume it works with the new tdac as well??

[STEVE G]

^At the moment, it’s just on departure but last month I arrived on at TDAC and departed via the automated gates without any problem.

[pharvey]

Jetstar Asia to cease operations from July 31

"Singapore-based low-cost airline Jetstar Asia will cease operations on July 31 as part of a “strategic restructure” by its parent company, Australian flag carrier Qantas.

More than 500 employees in Singapore will be laid off due to the closure, with the airline assuring that it will offer a range of support, including retrenchment benefits and employment opportunities, either within the Qantas Group or elsewhere.

Jetstar Asia said in a statement on June 11 that it will continue to operate flights out of Singapore for the next seven weeks with a progressively reduced schedule until its final day of operations on July 31.

Qantas said 16 intra-Asia routes will be impacted by the closure of Jetstar Asia, with no changes to Jetstar Airways (JQ) and Jetstar Japan (GK) services into Asia.

Jetstar Airways’ international services in and out of Australia will also remain unchanged."

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ ... s-affected

[Dannie Boy]

I doubt that will impact flights to/from Thailand!!