Passengers travelling through Gatwick Airport have been warned of potential disruption amid concerns over jet fuel supplies. The UK's second busiest airport has alerted airlines to a possible fuel shortage over the next two days following a technical issue, which could affect carriers including easyJet, British Airways, Wizz Air, TUI, and Jet2 during the busy summer holiday season.
Fuel shortage notice to crews
A notice sent to flight crews warned: "For the attention of all crews: Gatwick has a shortage of fuel for the next two days. Please uplift max possible fuel at outstations." A separate memo also warned of "potential disruption to the Gatwick fuel supply."
Despite the warnings, Gatwick said all airlines were continuing to operate as normal.
Impact on airlines
Short-haul airlines such as easyJet are expected to be less affected because aircraft can carry additional fuel from European airports before returning to Gatwick. Long-haul operators, including British Airways, could face more disruption as some flights may have departed before the warning was issued.
An airline source told The Sun pilots would try to carry extra fuel from overseas airports before returning to Gatwick, but said they would still face operational limits. The source said: "Pilots will try and take on as much fuel as they can from their foreign destinations to bring back to the UK, but they will be limited by factors such as the maximum take-off weight and the maximum landing weight back at Gatwick." They added that disruption was expected from Monday.
Gatwick's response
A spokesperson for Gatwick Airport said: "Following a technical issue impacting fuel supply to the airport, airlines have been advised to monitor fuel availability. We are working closely with external suppliers to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and minimise any potential disruption. All airlines are operating as normal."
The shortage is understood to have been caused by a technical issue at one of Gatwick's fuel farms rather than the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
