Aviation data service Cirium said upwards of 145,000 passengers could be hit by the closure of Heathrow Airport, with 669 flights scheduled to depart on Friday.

Airlines including Qantas diverted flights from Heathrow to other European airports.

A spokesman for Qantas said one flight had been rerouted to Paris Charles de Galle while the airline was still assessing where to send its second already departed flight.

At this stage Qantas expects to return to its normal schedule over the weekend.