Airports and airlines worldwide have been hit by a significant IT outage, causing flight delays, cancellations, and check-in problems. Despite some airlines and airports reporting being back online, over 2,600 flights were canceled globally out of 110,000 scheduled on Friday, with more expected. The disruption, believed to be linked to a Microsoft software glitch, has affected the aviation sector severely due to its reliance on coordinated schedules.
Airlines such as Ryanair, Delta, and Air India have faced delays, even if not directly impacted, leading to chaos for passengers during one of Europe’s busiest travel days. From manual check-ins to handwritten boarding passes, airports scrambled to manage the situation. While airlines in the US have resumed operations, some delays persist.
With millions of passengers affected, compensations and legal responsibilities remain uncertain, especially in Europe where airlines are mandated to provide compensation for significant delays. As the transportation system slowly returns to normal, hopes are high for a complete resolution by Saturday.