Passengers at Gatwick Airport were left in quite a pickle as they faced long queues for toilets and shuttered restaurants and bars following a significant water supply outage. Both terminals were reportedly experiencing disruptions, and the situation continued to cause chaos on Sunday afternoon. The airport has apologized for the inconvenience and assured that their staff are on hand to assist passengers wherever necessary. However, many were left frustrated as reports indicated that some restaurants had opened for additional seating while others remained closed.
“I’m taking off soon,” said one passenger, highlighting the urgency of the situation. The general mood was one of irritation; travelers were not just annoyed but resigned to the circumstances. Roger Wood, a passenger, mentioned that staff at Wetherspoons were turning people away due to the water issues. Meanwhile, BBC reporter Adam Dowling was traveling from Valencia to Gatwick when his flight was delayed because of the ongoing water supply problems. He shared that landing slots were being shifted around due to the number of flights at the South Terminal.
When Wood arrived at the airport on Sunday, he was shocked to discover, “There was no water at all.” The lack of functioning toilets added to the discomfort, as many were found to be out of order, with taps and flushes not working. It was reported that toilets were only operational if they could draw on emergency water supplies, which were evidently insufficient. One passenger described the scene, stating, “There was a very long queue to the ladies’ toilets and a short one for the men,” while another lamented being turned away from the facilities altogether.
Sarah Houchin, another traveler, expressed her frustration after waiting nearly two-and-a-half hours longer at the airport due to her delayed flight to Lefkada in Greece. “It’s a really long queue, and the toilets are disgusting,” she said, adding that the smell was unbearable. Passengers were left feeling fed up, citing a total lack of information from the airport regarding the situation.
Despite having booked a lounge, one passenger complained he was not allowed to sit inside, adding to the disappointment of many. Travelers were advised not to arrive early for their flights, as conditions were unpredictable. EasyJet confirmed that SES Water was dealing with the fallout, affecting Kent and parts of Surrey, while they were delivering bottled water to vulnerable customers.
It’s worth mentioning that Gatwick Airport and the surrounding area had faced similar water supply issues back in July 2022, when a burst water main caused low pressure that affected 1,200 homes and shut down toilet facilities at the airport. The recurring nature of these issues raises questions about the infrastructure and preparedness for such disruptions.
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Kaynak: Orijinal Haber