Travel Chaos as British Airways Flights Delayed After 'Technical Issue'
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Loading... - Pauline Roussel
- 19 Nov 2024
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Passengers traveling with British Airways (BA) faced significant delays on Monday due to a "technical issue" that affected the airline's systems. Reports of the disruptions began to surface around 5 PM, leading to widespread frustration among travelers as flights were grounded or delayed for extended periods.
A spokesperson for British Airways confirmed that while flights were still operating, many were experiencing delays as teams worked to resolve the technical problems impacting some of their systems. Travel journalist Simon Calder took to X (formerly Twitter) to inform the public about the situation, stating, "British Airways IT system failure is causing delays of 1-2 hours on many BA flights this evening... As delays build up, I fear there will be cancellations tonight/tomorrow."
The impact of the technical failure was felt across various airports, with passengers sharing their experiences on social media. One traveler reported being left waiting on the tarmac at Verona Airport, expressing frustration over the lack of communication from BA staff. "British Airways, can you explain why you have hundreds of people waiting outside, in the cold, on the runway, and there has been no communications, no collaboration from your staff, just silence and huge wait times?" the passenger lamented. They specifically mentioned flight BA 2591, which had been delayed without any indication of when boarding would commence.
Another passenger, a pilot scheduled to depart from Valencia, confirmed that the delays were due to a "company-wide IT failure," further highlighting the widespread nature of the issue.
In response to the situation, a spokesperson for Heathrow Airport stated, “We are aware of a technical issue that British Airways are investigating, and we will be working with them to provide updates to passengers as soon as they are available.” They reassured travelers that Heathrow’s systems were operating normally, indicating that the issue was isolated to British Airways.
As the evening progressed, BA's social media team was actively engaging with frustrated customers, offering apologies and updates. One user tweeted, “@British_Airways cmon let’s have some updates pls on the pc outage. Stuck in Vienna!!!!” BA responded, acknowledging the website issues and assuring passengers that they were working to return online as soon as possible.
Another passenger stuck on a plane in Rome expressed concern about the load computing for aircraft, stating, “Stuck on a plane in Rome going nowhere till the software is rebooted. Please assist!” BA replied, “Our website is down. We are doing all we can to return online as soon as possible. Hopefully not too long before the Captain has his load sheet. Thanks for your understanding. Have a good journey when it is safe for you to be airborne.”
The technical issues faced by British Airways on Monday have led to significant travel disruptions, leaving many passengers frustrated and anxious about their journeys. As the airline works to resolve the problems, travelers are advised to stay updated through official channels and social media for the latest information regarding their flights. The situation serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities in airline operations and the importance of effective communication during travel disruptions.
