On July 27, 2026, London Gatwick Airport, Britain’s second busiest airport and a major hub for budget airlines including EasyJet, faced a water supply disruption that affected both terminals. The outage forced the closure of all airport restaurants and disabled passenger facilities such as toilets, handwashing stations, and access to hot drinks and water refill points.
Cause of Water Supply Disruption
The disruption originated in the nearby Horley area following a power outage at a local water treatment facility managed by SES Water, the regional supplier. This caused a loss of water pressure and a temporary interruption in supply to the airport terminals.
Response Measures and Flight Operations
Flight operations
at Gatwick Airport were not affected despite the disruption to passenger services. Gatwick Airport activated contingency measures, including distributing bottled water to passengers and staff to maintain welfare during the outage.
Official Statements from Gatwick Airport and SES Water
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.” The airport also said: “Bottled water is being handed out to passengers and staff, and other contingency measures are being put in place to ensure the welfare of our passengers.”
SES Water noted the power outage caused
“a number of complications”, which led to some customers experiencing low water pressure or temporary loss of supply. The company confirmed it was working closely with Gatwick Airport to restore normal service promptly.
