Gatwick Airport has issued a warning to airlines about a shortage of jet fuel for the next two days due to a technical fault affecting supply to the airport.
A memo circulated to crews stated: "For 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 warned of a "potential disruption to the Gatwick fuel supply" and advised airlines to monitor fuel availability.
A spokesperson for Gatwick 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."
A technical problem at one of Gatwick's fuel farms is currently being addressed by airport engineers.
All carriers operating from the airport are set to be affected, with long-haul flights most exposed as airlines divert fuel to UK airports from abroad.
Gatwick's largest operators include easyJet, British Airways, Wizz Air, TUI, and Jet2, all of which will be impacted by the shortage.
The instruction to uplift fuel at outstations requires aircraft to load extra fuel at their departure airport rather than refuelling on arrival in the UK, which is constrained by aircraft weight limits and adds to fuel burn.
An airline source stated that pilots will try to take on as much fuel as they can from their foreign destinations to bring back to the UK, but will be limited by factors such as the maximum take-off weight and the maximum landing weight back at Gatwick.
The warning was issued during the school summer holidays, and the shortage is not linked to jet fuel supply constraints caused by a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
Gatwick is the UK's second-largest airport by passenger numbers, according to Civil Aviation Authority data, and has faced a run of operational problems in recent years.
The airport was named the UK's least punctual major airport for the second year running in CAA figures for 2024, with departures leaving an average of 23 minutes late.
Last week, passengers were left without water and power for a period following a failure at a treatment works serving the airport.
Travellers were unable to flush toilets, wash their hands, or refill water bottles, and restaurants, bars, and coffee kiosks closed as taps ran dry.
Only pre-made food such as sandwiches remained on sale after cooking stopped.
Summer schedules at UK airports have been disrupted by supply and staffing problems outside airlines' control in previous years.
In July 2025, Ryanair and easyJet cancelled nearly 450 flights between them ahead of a French air traffic control strike.
Gatwick has not said how long it expects the fault to take to resolve.
