On 26 July 2026, London Gatwick Airport, Britain’s second busiest airport and a major hub for budget airlines including EasyJet, experienced a water supply disruption affecting both passenger terminals. The issue led to closure of airport restaurants and interrupted passenger access to toilets, hand washing, hot drinks, and water bottle refilling facilities.
Cause and Emergency Response
The disruption was caused by a power outage at a nearby water treatment facility in the Horley area, operated by SES Water, the regional supplier responsible for that facility. This outage compromised water pressure and supply to parts of the region including Gatwick Airport.
Gatwick Airport confirmed the
problem was under investigation and emphasized that despite the passenger service disruptions, flight operations and schedules were not affected. As an emergency response, bottled water was distributed to passengers and staff to safeguard their welfare. Gatwick Airport stated on social media platform X, “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 acknowledged the power outage and said it was working closely with Gatwick Airport to restore normal water services promptly.
