Roberta Aguirre
A mass IT outage has impacted airports and airlines worldwide, causing delays, cancellations, and grounded flights. London's Gatwick Airport, Prague Airport, Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport are among those affected by check-in delays and disruptions. Dubai International Airport, Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, and several US airports like Chicago O'Hare International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport have also experienced issues. The outage has also impacted global repatriation and caused significant system-wide connectivity issues, including in hospitals and government agencies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 19 July 2024 |
| Cause | CrowdStrike outage |
| Number of cancelled flights | 1,390 as of 6 a.m. ET; about 2,400 as of 10 a.m. ET |
| Number of delayed flights | 25,000 as of 10 a.m. ET |
| Affected airlines | American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Air France, Turkish Airlines, Copa Airlines, LATAM Airlines, Iberia Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, AirAsia, Cebu Pacific Air, Porter Airlines, Volaris, Viva Aerobus |
| Affected airports | John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Newark Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Miami International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Schiphol Airport, Edinburgh Airport, Madrid and Barcelona airports, Prague Airport, Dubai International Airport |
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What You'll Learn
London's Gatwick Airport experiences delays
London's Gatwick Airport, the UK's worst for flight delays, has been affected by the global Microsoft issues, causing delays for passengers checking in and passing through security. The airport is an international hub located 47.5 km south of London, serving over 46.6 million travellers annually. It is the base for airlines such as easyJet, TUI Airways, and Virgin Atlantic.
In July 2024, a mass IT outage impacted airports and airlines worldwide, including London's Gatwick Airport. The global system failure affected flights to and from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines stating that the outages made flight handling impossible. Several other airports, including Berlin, Edinburgh, and Madrid, also experienced delays and disruptions due to technical faults.
The IT outage caused significant delays and cancellations, with passengers advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Chicago O'Hare, John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark airports urged passengers to expect longer wait times and to confirm their flight information.
London's Gatwick Airport has a history of delays, with air traffic control issues and staff shortages contributing to disruptions. In 2024, flights departed on average more than 23 minutes late, improving from a 27-minute average delay in 2023. The airport aims to improve on-time performance and has implemented plans to address staff shortages.
Passengers travelling through Gatwick Airport should be aware of potential delays and allow for additional time. It is recommended to check transport alternatives beforehand, as public transport may not be readily available, and taxi services can be expensive.
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Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport faces system failure
Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport has been hit by a "global system failure", causing delays and cancellations of flights. The airport, one of Europe's largest transportation hubs, said that the impact of the outage "is now being mapped". KLM Royal Dutch Airlines said that the outages are "making flight handling impossible".
In a series of tweets, Air Traffic Control Netherlands (LVNL) said that the main communications system used between pilots and traffic controllers had suffered technical problems. The incident began shortly after 1 pm (1100 GMT) but flights were permitted to land using a backup system after a short delay. Within an hour, flights began departing again on a reduced schedule. However, dozens of arrivals and departures were delayed, and passengers were urged to check the website for updates.
The outage was caused by faulty hardware, according to the Netherlands' Air Traffic Control. An initial reboot of the computer systems failed to resolve the issue. Schiphol Airport ranks among Europe's most congested airports, with 58 million passengers in 2015.
The global IT outage has impacted airports and airlines worldwide. London's Gatwick Airport, Berlin Airport, Edinburgh Airport, and Madrid and Barcelona airports in Spain have all reported delays due to the issue. In the US, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport have been affected, with passengers advised to check their flight status before travelling to the airport. Miami International Airport reported that US Customs and Border Patrol operations were impacted, resulting in slower processing of international passenger arrivals. Dubai International Airport, Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, and Incheon International Airport in South Korea also experienced technical difficulties.
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Chicago O'Hare advises passengers to check flight status
Chicago O'Hare International Airport has advised passengers to check their flight status directly with their carrier due to ongoing technical issues. The airport warned that longer lines and wait times are possible, and passengers have been asked to allow extra time.
The airport's advisory comes amid a global tech outage that has impacted multiple airlines and airports worldwide. London's Gatwick Airport, Berlin Airport, Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, Edinburgh Airport, and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport are among those experiencing delays and disruptions due to the global system failure. Several airlines, including KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France, Turkish Airlines, and Ryanair, have also confirmed disruptions to their services.
The tech outage has resulted in cancelled and delayed flights, with 1,390 cancellations reported globally as of 6 a.m. ET. Airports have urged passengers not to come to the airport unless they have confirmed their flight information, as US Customs and Border Patrol operations are affected, resulting in slower processing of international passenger arrivals.
Chicago O'Hare's advisory is in line with recommendations from other airports and airlines affected by the outage. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, for example, has asked customers to verify their flight status before heading to the airport, while Ryanair has advised passengers to arrive at least three hours early for their departure.
As the global tech outage continues to impact travel, passengers planning to fly from Chicago O'Hare or any other affected airport are strongly advised to follow the recommendations and check their flight status directly with their airline. With potential delays and cancellations, allowing extra time and confirming flight information in advance are crucial steps to ensure a smoother travel experience during this challenging period.
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Dubai International Airport check-in issues
Dubai International Airport (DXB) was one of many airports affected by a global IT system failure. Officials at the airport reported that the check-in process for some airlines was impacted, causing delays and cancellations. However, it has since been reported that the airport is now operating normally.
Passengers travelling from Dubai International Airport can check in online through the flydubai website or mobile app. Online check-in is available from 48 hours to 75 minutes before departure. If checking in at the airport, passengers should arrive at least three hours before departure, as check-in closes 60 minutes before take-off. Those with hand baggage only and a printed boarding pass can go straight to security and the departure gate.
Dubai Airports security uses high-tech tools to inspect guests, following global standards. To avoid delays, passengers are advised to avoid wearing metal objects and to remove them before passing through the inspection device. Lithium batteries, which are commonly found in mobile phones, pose a security risk, so passengers are advised to pack mobile phones in their hand luggage and ensure they are in the manufacturer's packaging.
Dubai International Airport also has specific customs requirements. All guests arriving at the airport must pass through customs, and certain items, such as narcotics, may result in fines or imprisonment. Passengers are advised to declare any goods they are unsure about upon arrival and to check the Dubai Customs website for updated requirements before travelling.
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Prague Airport delays due to global check-in issues
On 19 July 2024, a global IT outage caused by a failed update of cybersecurity software impacted airports worldwide. Prague Airport was one of the many airports affected by the issue, which resulted in delayed flights and slower check-in procedures. The global check-in system used by several airlines failed, with Prague Airport processing affected flights using an alternative system or manually.
The outage caused over 1,000 flight cancellations and numerous delays worldwide. Prague Airport advised passengers to expect delays and slower check-in times, with some departures delayed or suspended. EasyJet flights to Amsterdam and Swiss flights to Zurich were among the cancellations. Prague Airport's spokeswoman, Klára Divíšková, assured that the issue was beyond the airport's control and that carriers were managing the situation with alternative methods.
The cause of the outage was a technical fault with check-in systems worldwide, impacting airports in Europe, the United States, Australia, Spain, Germany, the UK, Turkey, and India. The issue extended beyond airlines to banks, hospitals, media outlets, and businesses, affecting global customers of Microsoft's Azure and Office365 services.
While Prague Airport worked to stabilize the situation, the resolution timeline remained unclear. Passengers experienced delays and cancellations, with some expressing hope for eventual departure. The interior minister, Vít Rakušan, reassured the public that the outage only affected the airport and not other critical IT systems like banking and healthcare.
The impact of the outage extended beyond Prague Airport, affecting global repatriation and resulting in potential rescheduling and increased costs. The Voyageur Group's Chief Operations Officer, Marc Banting, highlighted the significant repercussions on repatriation services.
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Frequently asked questions
Chicago O'Hare International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Newark Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and Miami International Airport were all affected by the outage.
London Gatwick Airport, Berlin Airport, Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, Edinburgh Airport, Madrid and Barcelona Airports, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Prague Airport, Dubai International Airport, Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, Jaipur International Airport, South Korea's Incheon International Airport, Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport, and Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok.
The outage was caused by a global IT system failure, affecting companies including airlines, the media, and banks.
