Following a global IT outage that took place on Friday, airline systems across airports worldwide were severely impacted, causing chaos and disruptions for travelers. However, according to Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, the systems have now started working normally, and all issues are expected to be resolved by noon on Saturday. The ministry is actively monitoring the operations to ensure that any necessary travel readjustments and refunds are taken care of.
Cause of the Outage
The IT outage was triggered by an update of a product offered by global cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which resulted in problems with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems. This widespread issue affected not only airlines but also various other sectors such as the financial industry, hospitals, and even television channels. As a result, airports faced chaotic scenes as online booking, reservation, and boarding systems had to switch to manual mode, leading to delays and cancellations of hundreds of flights.
Despite the initial challenges caused by the outage, airlines such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa, and Air India Express have managed to restore their reservation and check-in systems. Passengers have reported that operations are back to normal, with flights running on time. While the backlog of disrupted flights is gradually being cleared, the goal is to have all issues resolved by noon on Saturday, as assured by the Civil Aviation Minister.
One passenger at Delhi Airport shared their experience, stating that the online printing process (DigiYatra) is now convenient and that the flights are operating smoothly. Although the global outage presented significant challenges, airlines like IndiGo have made progress in restoring normal operations. However, customers may still face delays and disruptions over the weekend, as indicated by the airline.
IndiGo, the largest airline in terms of domestic market share, had to cancel around 200 flights due to the Microsoft outage issue. Despite this setback, the airline has managed to resume its operations and is working towards offering a seamless travel experience to its passengers. SpiceJet and Akasa Air also confirmed that all their systems at airports, including ticket bookings, are back up and running smoothly after addressing the Microsoft outage.
While the global IT outage presented unprecedented challenges to the aviation industry, airlines have shown resilience and efficiency in resolving the issues. The proactive efforts of the Civil Aviation Ministry and the airlines have played a crucial role in minimizing disruptions and restoring normalcy to the operations. As travelers continue to navigate through these challenging times, the focus remains on ensuring safety, convenience, and reliability in air travel.