A major technical outage this morning affecting businesses using Microsoft Windows has caused a number of disruptions at airports and airlines around the world.
The IT outage is said to be caused by an issue with the Crowdstrike cybersecurity software used on Microsoft Windows platforms. The problem has triggered the infamous “Blue Screen of Death” on affected computers, preventing companies from performing important tasks.
As a result, the outage has impacted credit card companies, shops, transport services worldwide and the NHS, which reported that its GP and patient records systems are currently unavailable due to the outage. It has also reported that new prescriptions cannot currently be requested.
READ MORE: IT company Crowdstrike at the centre of global outage chaos breaks its silence
Airports were also affected, with some passengers reporting long queues and delays at check-in. In Germany, air traffic was suspended at Berlin Brandenburg Airport, while Manchester Airport reported that some of its airlines were affected.
The airport said the disruption had impacted Swissport, one of its ground handling service providers that works with major airlines including Tui and Ryanair. The outage means passengers have to be checked in manually, which takes longer, but Manchester Airport said “most flights are unaffected”.
A statement from Manchester Airport said: “Global IT issues are impacting some of our airlines this morning. This means some processes such as check-in and boarding are being carried out manually and are taking longer than usual on these airlines. The majority of flights from the airport are unaffected, but terminals are slightly busier than usual due to the situation.”
“As always, passengers are advised to check the status of their flights with their airline before departing for the airport and follow their airline’s advice on the best time to arrive at the airport. We also advise checking current travel advice as some train services are also affected by the issues.
“Some of our retailers were also affected, meaning they were unable to process card payments. We thank all our passengers for their patience and understanding.”
For those who have booked a flight today or are waiting to arrive, we have compiled a list of airlines that have reported impacts today due to the outages, as well as airlines that are not directly affected but have issued advisories to passengers regarding possible queues.
Ryanair
A Ryanair spokesperson said: “We are currently experiencing disruption across our network due to a global third-party IT outage that is outside of our control. We advise all passengers to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before their scheduled departure time.”
“If you are departing today and have not yet checked in for your flight, you can do so at the airport. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by this third-party global IT outage.”
Jet2
A Jet2 spokesperson said: “We are aware of a large-scale IT outage affecting computer systems. While our systems are not directly affected, certain airports and some of our third-party providers across the network are affected.”
“As a result, some airports are experiencing issues with the check-in and boarding system. We are continuing to monitor the situation and will provide updates as appropriate. Please continue to visit the Jet2.com website for information about your flight.
“As a reminder, our check-in closes 40 minutes before your flight’s scheduled departure time. Currently, all flights are departing as scheduled and our teams are on site to assist customers.”
British Airways
A British Airways spokesperson said: “Due to the widely publicised global Microsoft IT outage, some of our flights may experience disruption today. Our teams are working hard to resolve the impact of this issue as quickly as possible.”
“Please visit our flight status page for the most up-to-date information about your flight. We apologize for any impact on your travel plans. If you have a connecting flight on the same ticket and there is a chance you may miss your connection, we will automatically rebook your onward journey. Please check Manage My Booking. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”
Air France
An Air France spokesperson said: “Due to a global IT issue affecting in particular several airlines and airports around the world, our operations are disrupted.
“Flights already en route are not affected. However, access to customer care call centers may be disrupted. The Air France app and AirFrance.com websites are functioning normally.”
Loganair
A Loganair spokesman said: “We are aware of reports of IT outages worldwide. Loganair flights are not affected and our operations team will continue to monitor this issue. Loganair expects all of our flights to operate as planned.”
“We recommend that you arrive at the airport well in advance of your flight to ensure a smooth journey to the airport. We thank our customers for their patience.”
KLM
A KLM spokesperson said: “Due to a global IT issue that particularly affects several airlines and airports around the world, our operations are disrupted.
“Flights already en route are not affected. However, access to customer care call centers may be disrupted. The Air France and KLM apps and the AirFrance.com and KLM.com websites are functioning normally.”
Other flights that are affected to some extent today are:
