March 27, 2025 – Air Freight News
Last Friday’s full shutdown of passenger and cargo operations at Heathrow Airport has led to the disruption of more than £5.43 million worth of goods, according to international courier firm Parcelhero.
The incident, caused by a major power outage, resulted in the cancellation of all flights and a full-day closure of the UK’s busiest airport. While cargo operations resumed on March 23, the impact on the UK’s supply chain is likely underestimated.
📦 Supply Chain Consequences Across the UK
David Jinks, Head of Consumer Research at Parcelhero, estimates that the true cost of the disruption could reach several million pounds, accounting for:
- Spoiled perishable goods
- Aircraft refuelling and rescheduling costs
- Idle production lines awaiting just-in-time parts
- Complex rerouting of shipments by road to other UK and EU airports
Even though ground handling services continued, the suspension of all flights meant that air cargo could not move as scheduled, causing significant backlogs.
📍 Heathrow’s Central Role in UK Air Freight
📈 In 2023, Heathrow handled:
- 48% of the UK’s total air freight by volume
- 70% of the UK’s air freight by value, totalling over $198.5 billion
- 90% of cargo via bellyhold space (shared with passenger luggage)
This heavy reliance on passenger aircraft capacity means that, as travel resumes in the coming days, freight will have to compete for limited space against rising luggage volumes.
🇺🇸 US-Bound Exports Hit Hard
Heathrow is the UK’s primary hub for flights to the United States—Britain’s largest single trading partner.
- The disruption has particularly impacted cargo bound for the US, with delays in high-value, time-sensitive shipments.
- Rerouting this volume to smaller airports like Luton, Gatwick, and Stansted has proven logistically challenging.
📢 “Any disruption to these services is significant,” says Jinks, emphasizing the importance of Heathrow’s transatlantic role.
🚚 What This Means for HAI International Holding Clients
If you ship goods via air freight to or from the UK, especially through Heathrow, here’s what to expect:
✅ Potential delays on US-bound cargo
✅ Limited space availability on outbound flights
✅ Congestion at alternative airports
✅ Ongoing scheduling instability for the next few days
HAI International Holding is actively monitoring the situation and offers:
- Updated route planning and carrier availability
- Flexible air cargo solutions via alternate hubs
- Real-time updates on scheduling and handling capacities
