London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
LGW / EGKK · GB · London
London Gatwick Airport (LGW): Passenger Guide & Your Rights
London Gatwick is the United Kingdom's second-busiest airport, handling approximately 46 million passengers per year. Located 47 kilometres south of central London in West Sussex, Gatwick is the main base for easyJet and a significant hub for British Airways short-haul operations, Wizz Air, and Norwegian. The airport serves an extensive network of European leisure and short-haul destinations, plus a growing number of long-haul routes.
EC261 / UK261 Legal Status - London Gatwick
All flights departing from London Gatwick are covered by UK261, the UK's retained version of EC261. For flights arriving at LGW from the EU, EC261 applies if the airline is EU-registered; UK261 applies if the airline is UK-registered. The limitation period in the UK is 6 years (England and Wales). The UK National Enforcement Body is the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority).
€250 - €600
Under UK261, compensation mirrors EC261 rates: short-haul under 1,500 km qualifies for £220 (≈€250), medium-haul 1,500-3,500 km qualifies for £350 (≈€400), and long-haul over 3,500 km qualifies for £520 (≈€600) per passenger.
- LGW → DUB (Dublin, ~460 km): £220 / €250
- LGW → BCN (Barcelona, ~1,080 km): £220 / €250
- LGW → AGP (Málaga, ~1,580 km): £350 / €400
- LGW → TFS (Tenerife South, ~2,920 km): £350 / €400
- LGW → MBJ (Montego Bay, ~7,580 km): £520 / €600
Gatwick has two terminals: North Terminal and South Terminal, connected by a free automated shuttle train (approximately 3 minutes). South Terminal is the larger of the two and handles easyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, and several other carriers. North Terminal serves British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Turkish Airlines, and various other airlines. Always check which terminal your flight departs from, as arriving at the wrong terminal costs valuable time.
The airport is connected to London by the Gatwick Express to Victoria (30 minutes), Thameslink services to London Bridge, St Pancras, and beyond, Southern Railway services, National Express coaches, and taxis. Gatwick historically operated with a single runway, making it particularly vulnerable to weather delays - a second runway has recently become available, improving resilience but not eliminating capacity constraints.
Not every disruption qualifies for compensation. Understanding the most common causes of delays at this airport can help you assess your claim.
Disruption Causes
Common Disruptions at London Gatwick
- Weather disruptions including fog, wind, and winter storms significantly impact Gatwick, which until recently relied on a single runway for all operations
- Runway capacity constraints mean any weather-related slowdown creates immediate backlogs with long recovery times
- easyJet's high-frequency, quick-turnaround operation means a delayed inbound aircraft causes cascading delays across multiple subsequent flights
- Security queues in South Terminal can be extensive during early-morning peak departure waves, especially in summer
- ATC flow restrictions and airspace congestion in the busy London Terminal Manoeuvring Area delay departures and arrivals across all London airports
What to Do When Disrupted at London Gatwick
If your flight is disrupted at Gatwick, find your airline's service desk. In South Terminal, easyJet's customer service area is located on the departures level near the main check-in hall. Ryanair and Wizz Air also have desks in South Terminal. In North Terminal, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have service desks in the check-in area. During major disruptions, easyJet sometimes sets up additional support desks near the departure gates - check the airport's information screens for updates.
Step-by-Step
Your Action Plan at Gatwick
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1
Document the disruption - photograph departure boards, save app notifications, and note scheduled versus actual times
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2
Visit the airline's service desk and request a written reason for the delay or cancellation
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3
Claim your right to care - meal vouchers after the delay threshold, hotel accommodation for overnight delays
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4
Keep all receipts for food, transport, and accommodation expenses
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5
File your UK261 claim - the 6-year limitation period is generous, but filing promptly leads to faster resolution
Document the disruption from the outset. Photograph the departure boards showing your flight's status, save all notifications from the airline, and request a written statement of the disruption cause. If the airline provides delay certificates or disruption letters, keep these safely. UK courts and the CAA's ADR scheme handle thousands of flight compensation claims each year, and strong documentation significantly improves your prospects.
Under UK261, you are entitled to care while you wait. Meals and refreshments must be provided after the applicable delay threshold, and hotel accommodation plus transport for overnight disruptions. Gatwick has on-site hotels (Sofitel in North Terminal, Hampton by Hilton in South Terminal, Hilton connected by walkway) and plenty of hotels along the A23 corridor. The Gatwick Express runs until approximately 23:30 and Thameslink services run later, providing options for reaching London if stranded. Keep all receipts for any expenses the airline fails to cover.
Claiming Tip - United Kingdom (Gatwick)
For Gatwick disruptions, the same UK claiming process applies as for Heathrow. If the airline rejects your claim, escalate through the CAA's approved ADR bodies. easyJet, Gatwick's largest carrier, uses AviationADR for dispute resolution - this is free for passengers. Alternatively, use the UK small claims court via Money Claims Online. The 6-year limitation means you can also claim for historical disruptions going back several years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to the most common questions about claiming EC261 compensation for flights at this airport.
Does Gatwick's single-runway constraint count as extraordinary circumstances?
No. Gatwick's historical single-runway operation was a well-known structural limitation that airlines chose to operate within. Courts do not accept this as an extraordinary circumstance. Airlines scheduling flights from Gatwick were expected to account for the reduced resilience that a single runway provides. Even with the recent addition of a second runway, capacity constraints are not a valid defence against EC261/UK261 claims.
My easyJet flight from Gatwick was delayed because the inbound aircraft arrived late. Can I claim?
Yes. Late arrival of the aircraft (also called 'knock-on delay' or 'rotational delay') is not an extraordinary circumstance. Airlines are responsible for managing their fleet rotations and scheduling adequate turnaround times. If your easyJet flight was delayed by 3+ hours due to a late-arriving aircraft, you have a strong claim. This is one of the most common and successful claim types at Gatwick.
Airport Information
Check Your Compensation
Enter your flight details to see if you qualify for up to €600 per person.