On July 26, 2026, London Gatwick Airport, Britain’s second busiest airport and a major hub for budget airlines including EasyJet, experienced a water supply disruption that affected both terminals. The outage suspended passenger services such as flushing toilets, hand washing, access to hot drinks, and refilling water bottles, and led to the closure of all on-site restaurants.
Cause and Airport Response to Water Supply Disruption
The cause was a power outage at a water treatment facility managed by SES Water located in the Horley area near Gatwick Airport. This outage reduced water pressure and temporarily cut off supply to parts of the area including the airport. Gatwick Airport
distributed bottled water to passengers and staff and activated contingency plans to ensure passenger welfare and minimize the impact.
Flight Operations Unaffected Amid Passenger Service Interruptions
Flight operations at Gatwick Airport were not affected by the water supply issue, the airport confirmed. Gatwick Airport stated: “A water issue in the Horley area is causing disruption at the airport this morning. The problem is affecting water supply in both terminals and is currently under investigation.” SES Water said the outage caused “a number of complications,” including low water pressure and temporary loss of supply, and noted it was working closely with Gatwick Airport to restore water service promptly.
