A cascading power failure at London Heathrow on 18 February triggered a headache for global mobility teams with staff shuttling between the United Kingdom and Cyprus. British Airways scrapped all four of its same-day services on the flagship Larnaca–Heathrow route—two departures and two arrivals—after Heathrow closed multiple terminals to restore critical systems. The carrier warned that knock-on disruptions could extend into the weekend as crew and aircraft are repositioned.(in-cyprus.philenews.com)
Cyprus’ airport operator confirmed that passengers booked on the cancelled BA 663/664 rotations were being re-protected on later dates or rerouted via Athens and Dubai, with priority given to travellers holding onward connections. No other airlines operating between the islands—such as Wizz Air, easyJet and Cyprus Airways—were affected because they use alternative London airports.
For travelers suddenly forced to rebook or reroute, keeping visa and passport requirements straight can add to the stress. VisaHQ’s Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) provides an easy online check of entry rules for both the UK and Cyprus, plus expedited processing and courier options, helping passengers and corporate mobility teams avoid additional snags while schedules are in flux.
![Heathrow power outage forces British Airways to cancel all Larnaca flights, stranding Cyprus-UK travellers]()
The Larnaca–Heathrow link is vital for financial-services executives and expatriate families; BA normally operates up to two daily flights year-round. February is peak season for board meetings at Cyprus-domiciled shipping and tech firms that draw UK-based directors. Several companies told local media they had to switch to video conferences or postpone signing ceremonies.
From a duty-of-care standpoint, employers should remind travellers that EU air-passenger-rights Regulation 261/2004 entitles them to rerouting or reimbursement but not compensation, because the outage constitutes an “extraordinary circumstance.” Travel managers are also being urged to diversify routings in Q1 2026 as Heathrow undertakes planned cabling upgrades that could pose further disruption risks.
Hermes Airports says contingency plans, including overnight parking stands and rapid-test immigration booths, will allow Larnaca to handle any backlog once services resume. Passengers are advised to check their carrier’s app before heading to the airport and to allow extra time for security screening given the surge in rebooked traffic.
Cyprus’ airport operator confirmed that passengers booked on the cancelled BA 663/664 rotations were being re-protected on later dates or rerouted via Athens and Dubai, with priority given to travellers holding onward connections. No other airlines operating between the islands—such as Wizz Air, easyJet and Cyprus Airways—were affected because they use alternative London airports.
For travelers suddenly forced to rebook or reroute, keeping visa and passport requirements straight can add to the stress. VisaHQ’s Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) provides an easy online check of entry rules for both the UK and Cyprus, plus expedited processing and courier options, helping passengers and corporate mobility teams avoid additional snags while schedules are in flux.
The Larnaca–Heathrow link is vital for financial-services executives and expatriate families; BA normally operates up to two daily flights year-round. February is peak season for board meetings at Cyprus-domiciled shipping and tech firms that draw UK-based directors. Several companies told local media they had to switch to video conferences or postpone signing ceremonies.
From a duty-of-care standpoint, employers should remind travellers that EU air-passenger-rights Regulation 261/2004 entitles them to rerouting or reimbursement but not compensation, because the outage constitutes an “extraordinary circumstance.” Travel managers are also being urged to diversify routings in Q1 2026 as Heathrow undertakes planned cabling upgrades that could pose further disruption risks.
Hermes Airports says contingency plans, including overnight parking stands and rapid-test immigration booths, will allow Larnaca to handle any backlog once services resume. Passengers are advised to check their carrier’s app before heading to the airport and to allow extra time for security screening given the surge in rebooked traffic.
