Gatwick Airport experienced a water outage affecting both terminals on Sunday, 26 July 2026, caused by a power failure at SES Water’s Bough Beech treatment works in Kent. This failure cut off running water supply within the terminals, impacting airport operations and passenger services across the site.
Terminal Closures and Sanitary Issues
With no running water, most restaurants and bars across Gatwick’s terminals shut down, including chains like Nando’s and Wetherspoon. Only a few outlets selling packaged meals such as Pret and Itsu remained open. Toilet facilities were limited, with some closed and others reliant on emergency water supplies, causing long queues and poor conditions.
Passenger Experiences and Airport Response
Passengers reported inadequate announcements and spotty bottled water distribution. Paul Lee, an affected traveler, noted the lack of official information and bottled water availability despite the toilet difficulties. Former MP Michael Dugher criticized the airport for denying access to closed restaurant seating, forcing families to sit on floors. Roger Wood, another passenger, confirmed full closure of restaurants due to the water loss, with toilets becoming unhygienic as the situation progressed.
Flight Delays and Operational Adjustments
The outage disrupted flight schedules at Gatwick. BBC journalist Adam Dowling reported delays due to adjustments of landing slots to reduce arrivals. EasyJet, a major carrier operating from the airport,
altered bag drop policies, requesting passengers not to arrive earlier than two hours before departure—down from the usual three hours—to manage processing amid the outage. Passenger Sarah Houchin’s departing flight to Lefkada, Greece, was delayed by nearly two and a half hours.
Official Statements and Criticism
SES Water confirmed restoration of power at the Bough Beech plant and stated water treatment was underway before services could fully resume, saying, “Our Bough Beech water treatment works are back up and running. We now need to treat the water before returning services to normal as quickly as we possibly can.” Gatwick Airport apologized for the disruption,
stating that staff were assisting travelers and bottled water was being distributed, adding some restaurant partners opened to provide extra seating. EasyJet advised passengers to avoid early arrival due to limited bag drop availability. Criticism continued from passengers including Ian Bubb, who described the airport’s response as an “absolute disgrace” and stated contingency planning was lacking for such an event.
