Airlines have been warned that Gatwick Airport is facing a fuel shortage for the next two days, raising the prospect of severe disruption during the summer holidays.
An alert sent to pilots instructed them to stock up on fuel at other airports where possible while en route to the airport. The memo, reported by The Sun on Sunday, said: "Gatwick has a shortage of fuel for the next two days" and added, "Please uplift max possible fuel at outstations".
Long-haul flights most affected
A second "emergency" alert told airline chiefs of "potential disruption to the Gatwick fuel supply". The warning is expected to hit long-haul flights hardest, as pilots attempt to carry extra fuel from foreign destinations without breaching weight restrictions.
A source told The Sun: "Most flights beyond 2.5 hours will still need extra fuel in Gatwick. The fuel shortage warning came with many long-haul flights already enroute to the UK, meaning crews were unable to bring extra fuel with them."
"Pilots will be trying to supplement as much fuel as they can down-route to protect the long-haul flights and stretch out supply. The longer the fuel shortage lasts, the tighter it will get. It means there is a good chance of disruption, particularly Monday onwards."
Cause and response
The issue has been linked to a major fuel farm that supplies Gatwick, with engineers reportedly working to resolve the crisis. The current shortage is not thought to be related to the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which earlier this summer raised fears of aviation fuel shortages and prices nearly doubling.
The warning follows a day of disruption for passengers last Sunday, when a water outage closed toilets, bars and restaurants at the airport. Regional supplier SES Water said a power outage at its Bough Beech Water Treatment Works cut off the water supply, with engineers spending hours fixing the problem.
The airport was without running water for more than eight hours, and the closure of cafes, bars and restaurants left many passengers sitting on the floor.
Gatwick statement
In a message on X, Gatwick Airport said: "We recognise the inconvenience caused by today's water shortage, following an issue at the Bough Beech Water Treatment Works that has impacted the local area."
"Since becoming aware of the issue, we have been working closely with SES Water and our airport partners to help minimise the impact. We are pleased to report that water pressure is beginning to return to normal, and our teams are working hard to reopen toilets and other facilities as quickly and safely as possible. Additional staff have been deployed across both terminals to support passengers and maintain operations."
The airport thanked passengers for their patience.
