 "Microsoft outage: Which airports have been worst-affected? How are they dealing with the crisis?")
The global IT outage reportedly due to an issue with cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike and Microsoft Windows has affected airport operations across the world.
From India to Australia, Germany, the US, the UK and Spain, air passengers around the world are facing delays and cancellations.
Global aviation analytics firm Cirium cited data showing that of 110,000 scheduled commercial flights across the world, 1,390 have been cancelled.
As per BBC, the US has seen 512 flights cancelled, Germany has witnessed 92 flights cancelled, India has seen 56 flights cancelled, Italy has recorded 45 flights being cancelled and Canada has seen 21 flights cancelled.
More are likely to be called off in the hours ahead.
But which airports have been worst-affected? How are they operating amid the outage?
India
Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) has witnessed long lines of passengers as counters remain unable to process check-ins, as per Hindustan Times.
Some airlines have begun issuing handwritten boarding passes.
The Microsoft / CrowdStrike outage has taken down most airports in India. I got my first hand-written boarding pass today 😅 pic.twitter.com/xsdnq1Pgjr
— Akshay Kothari (@akothari) July 19, 2024
Sources told NDTV 90 per cent of flights from Bengaluru airport’s Terminal 1 have been impacted.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe situation is unlikely to be resolved until midnight.
Airlines at New Delhi airport’s Terminal 3 were also giving handwritten boarding passes to flyers, while airport staff were using white-boards to display gate information for flights, according to an official for the airport.
As per Business Today, IndiGo, Air India, Akasa and SpiceJet have been impacted.
IndiGo wrote on X, “Our systems are currently impacted by a Microsoft outage, which is also affecting other companies. During this time booking, check-in, access to your boarding pass, and some flights may be impacted. We appreciate your patience.”
Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu wrote on social media, “I have directed airport authorities and airlines to be compassionate and provide extra seating, water, and food for passengers affected by delays. We understand your concerns and are working tirelessly to ensure your safe and swift travel. Your patience and cooperation are greatly appreciated.”
UK
CNBC quoted authorities in Gatwick and Heathrowas saying they were relying on back-up systems to continue operations.
However, they added that delays are expected.
Gatwick said the issues were across “some airlines’ check-in systems, baggage and security, including eGates.”
As per BBC, Edinburgh is no longer accepting inbound flights that aren’t already in the air.
Stephanie Thompson, from the US, told BBC she could not make her flight to Dallas.
“We couldn’t get an answer from anybody,” Thompson, speaking from Edinburgh Airport, said. “I was on hold with American (Airlines) for about an hour and 10 minutes before I finally hung up.
“We just paid $6,800 for a one-way trip home, hopefully leaving tonight. I didn’t know what else to do. I just wanted something to get us home.”
In Edinburgh, a Reuters witness said boarding pass scanners carried a “server offline message”, with the airport saying passengers shouldn’t travel to the airport without checking their flight status online first.
Passengers whose flights have been cancelled have been told to leave.
US
Several US carriers including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta issued ground stops for all their flights early on Friday due to communication problems, according to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
American Airlines later said it had resumed operations.
A spokeswoman for Los Angeles International Airport told the BBC that “some flights are taking off and landing.”
Germany
A spokesperson for Lufthansa Airlines said passengers faced ‘minimal disruption’ to and from Berlin.
But the low-cost German airline Eurowings said it was canceling all domestic flights as well as those to and from the UK set to depart before 3 pm.
Japan
According to BBC, authorities at Japan’s Narita Airport are saying a number of airlines including JetStar, Jeju Air, Qantas, HK Express and Spring Japan are having trouble with their systems.
Czech Republic
As per Business Today, Prague Airport has witnessed delays in departures.
Australia
The entire flight system is affected at Sydney Airport, as per Business Today.
Authorities have said operations and terminal services are impacted and passengers are facing possible delays.
However, Brisbane Airport is using backup systems to keep their flights coming and going.
Travellers have been asked to make extra time for their trips.
Spain
Some airlines and airports said they are already back online.
Spanish carrier Iberia saying it had managed to avoid flight cancellations.
“From 9:25 am onwards the electronic check-in counters and online check-ins were reactivated. There have been some delays,” a spokesperson said.
At Madrid-Barajas Airport, passengers complained of queues and a lack of information.
“Nobody was around to tell us where we could check in when we arrived … so different groups queued in different places and then in the end someone, after a bottleneck of people was formed, told us to come here,” Ana Rodriguez, a tourist from Mexico, said.
Taiwan
CNBC quoted authorities at Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport as saying that self-check in systems are down.
Check in processes were being managed manually, they added.
Ireland
According to Business Today, Dublin Airport has said Ryanair is having trouble with their check-in.
Passengers have been asked to arrive three hours before their flight.
Authorities said they are working closely with Ryanair to help passengers.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong International Airport said a Microsoft outage was affecting several airlines and it had switched to manual check-in, but flight operations had not been affected.
Netherlands
Flight tracking service FlightRadar24 said Amsterdam’s Schiphol had the worst disruptions globally.
As per The Times of India, the airport saw 84 flights being cancelled – with an average delay time of 75 minutes.
Five per cent of all flights at Schiphol have been cancelled.
Eighty-eight per cent of operations have been impacted.
A Schiphol spokesperson said flights to and from the airport had been affected, adding it was not yet clear how many and that travellers were advised to contact their airline.
“We expect longer waiting times and some flight cancellations. Not all airports in Europe were impacted as the issue is linked with a specific OS, Microsoft Azure,” said Agata Lyznik, a spokesperson for airports group ACI Europe.
In Europe, airlines are required to compensate passengers for delays of more than three hours but it was unclear to what extent they would be held legally responsible for the outage.
Turkey
As per BBC, Turkey’s flagship carrier has cancelled 84 flights.
It quoted Turkish Airlines as saying things will “gradually return to normal”.
Meanwhile, low cost carrier Ajet has also said it is facing issues when it comes to online ticketing, reservations, and call centres.
UAE
At Dubai International (DXB), the world’s busiest international airport, check-ins for some flights at Terminals 1 and 2 were affected.
However, the airlines switched to an alternative system, Dubai Airports said.
Singapore
Singapore’s Changi airport said check-ins were being handled manually.
The aviation sector has been hit particularly hard due to its sensitivity to timings.
Airlines rely on a closely coordinated schedule often run by air traffic control.
Just one delay of a few minutes can throw off a flight schedule for take-offs and landings for an airport and airline for the rest of the day.
With inputs from agencies
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