Heathrow airport has warned of disruption after flooding caused by a pipe leak has restricted access to terminals 2 and 3.

Water in the central terminal area means anyone trying to travel to or from either terminal is unable enter by road. Passengers are being advised to travel by rail and tube instead. Access to the terminal car parks is also impeded, leaving passengers with parked cars unable to access them.

An airport spokesperson said: “Our teams are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. We apologise for any disruption caused. The leak has been isolated and repairs are ongoing.”

The disruption comes during the school holidays, one of the airport’s busiest periods.

Heathrow said 19 July had been its busiest day of the year so far with more than 267,000 passengers passing through as many schools broke up for summer.

The airport was recently affected by disruption to rail services after a water leak prompted the closure of a tunnel.

The airport is one of the busiest in the world, with as many as 1,300 flight movements – takeoffs and landings – every day.

Heathrow announced the latest disruption on X, leading to a stream of queries and complaints from concerned travellers.

“Do we have to meet and greet at T4 or 5?? When will this be resolved?” One asked.

An official response read: “We recommend heading to T5 M&G and explaining to staff that your booking has been affected by the flooding.”

Another said: “I am collecting my daughter from Terminal 3 shortly; she has special needs. She has travelled via a wheelchair. Please can you advise?”

The airport replied: “You would not be able to park at Terminal 3 currently as there is no access by road; you would need to park at Terminal 4 or 5 and transfer to Terminal 3. We do have assistance teams in the terminal who would be able to advise on the best way of returning to your vehicle with a wheelchair passenger.”

The consumer rights group Which? urged passengers to check airline policies on booked flights, and advised against unnecessary travel.

The editor of Which? Travel, Rory Boland, said: “Passengers heading to Heathrow today will understandably be worried, so it’s important to follow the airport’s advice and avoid travelling by road to Terminals 2 and 3, instead allowing extra time and using public transport where possible.

“If you’re worried you may miss your flight because of the disruption, contact your airline as soon as possible. Airlines have different policies on missed flights, so it’s worth finding out if you are entitled to a free rebooking or refund if your flight has operated.

“If you’ve paid for airport parking but can no longer use it because of the road closures, contact the parking provider as soon as possible to see if you can amend your booking or get a refund. You should also check your travel insurance to see whether you’re covered for any costs you incur because of the disruption, such as a missed flight or additional travel expenses.”