system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5:Why aren't there more power outlets in airport terminals?
gpt
Most airport terminals in the world were built before everyone carried a laptop, tablet and a phone with them on every flight, so outlets were never added to account for people charging them. 20 years ago, no one had stuff they wanted to charge before boarding so many outlets weren't needed. Adding an outlet isn't exactly trivial - wiring needs to be run behind the walls, circuit breakers might need to be upgraded to handle the extra load, etc. Think about what it would take to add extra power outlets to a room in your house, then consider that would have to be done at every gate in the terminal - all without disrupting normal operations at the airport.

Newley built or remodeled terminals ideally should be built with plenty of outlets. But it would be expensive to add them to older terminals.