Mopping up operations have begun after airlines and airports around the world experienced chaotic disruption with a major Microsoft technical outage as Friday, July 19 dawned. Banks, retail stores and offices in every sector were affected, including GDSs Amadeus and Travelport. Several sectors appear to be recovering or have recovered, but some airport and airline schedules have been thrown out of kilter for Saturday, July 20.
The cause of the outage appears to have been linked to Microsoft and Anti-cybercrime software provider, Crowdstrike. Microsoft named it as a technical issue rather than a cyber incident.
Media are now reporting that it was a gremlin in a software update which ignited global chaos as computers crashed in shops, airlines, airports, shops, banks and hospitals. Several media report this as the most serious IT outage the world has ever seen and have named it the “digital pandemic”, and said it shows the dangers that individuals and businesses are exposed to by the cashless economy.
IT experts have voiced their opinions on the fix, saying it was expected that putting things right would take some time as each computer which received the faulty update would have to be individually addressed. The Telegraph reported on Saturday that it was expected that 200 000 Britons would have their holidays disrupted with airline delays or cancellations. It said that expectations were that the disruptions would last well into this week as airlines struggle to get aircraft and crew back into position for the schedules to normalise.
Major US carriers including Delta Airlines, United Airlines and American Airlines had to issue ground stops, citing communication issues, reported Reuters. On Saturday July 20, Delta and United were still recovering. Delta had to cancel 600 flights on Saturday, June 20.
UK airports Heathrow and Gatwick reported issues and warned of delays and disruptions.
Other airports and airlines worldwide were also affected, with Spain, Germany, Ireland, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and the Netherlands all reporting flight disruptions linked to the IT meltdown.
Train companies across the UK also reported issues and warned of short-notice train cancellations.
