British Airways (BA) passengers faced significant delays on Monday evening due to a technical issue that affected the airline’s operations at several airports, both in the UK and internationally. The issue, which began at around 17:00 GMT, led to some flights being delayed by up to one or two hours, with passengers stranded on the tarmac and in airports.
Key Details:
- Cause of the Disruption: The problem was linked to an issue with BA’s computer systems, which affected various aspects of the airline’s operations, including flight data and communication between pilots and ground staff.
- Global Impact: The disruption affected flights worldwide, including both domestic UK flights and international routes. Passengers in locations such as Verona, Hamburg, Naples, Lyon, and Dusseldorf reported delays.
Impact on Passengers:
- Tarmac Stranding: Passengers on several flights reported being made to stand on the tarmac in cold weather, waiting for updates on delayed flights. One passenger in Verona posted on social media that they had been waiting for an already delayed flight.
- Flight Booking Issues: There were also reports of check-in issues, with some travelers unable to check in for their flights as BA’s systems were down. Some passengers faced difficulties generating loading data for aircraft, and others experienced problems contacting colleagues via phone.
Airline Response:
- No Cancellations: BA confirmed that no flights had been cancelled, but delays were widespread. The airline issued an apology to passengers for the disruptions, assuring them that the issue had been resolved and that they would reach their destinations as planned.
- IT Failure History: This is not the first time that BA has suffered from IT failures. Similar disruptions occurred in May 2023, Spring 2017, and February 2020, often leading to widespread cancellations and delays.
Concerns Moving Forward:
- Potential Knock-On Effect: Although the issue has been reportedly fixed, there are concerns that the delays may have a knock-on effect on flights scheduled for Tuesday, potentially causing further disruption.
Industry Insights:
- Estimated Impact: Travel expert Simon Calder estimated that the disruption could have affected tens of thousands of passengers. However, he noted that the delays seemed to be relatively short, usually around one or two hours for the affected flights.
BA’s Statement:
In a statement, BA assured passengers that the technical issue had been resolved and that the airline was working to ensure minimal further impact on its services. The airline thanked passengers for their patience during the disruption.
Heathrow Airport’s Response:
A spokesperson for Heathrow Airport mentioned that while it was aware of the technical issues affecting BA, the airport’s own systems were operating normally and were unaffected by the IT failures.
This incident highlights the growing impact of IT failures in the airline industry, with significant disruption to both passengers and operations, especially when these issues involve critical systems for flight data, communication, and passenger management.