July 19th 2024.
This past weekend, many Australians were looking forward to taking a quick trip, only to find themselves facing unexpected chaos at the airport. All airlines were affected, causing major disruptions across the country. However, there is good news - the airlines are confident that things will be back to normal today.
The root of the problem was a global IT outage on Friday, which left airport and airline systems unable to function properly. This resulted in grounded planes and countless travelers having their plans thrown into disarray. Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike has since clarified that the issue was not due to a security breach or cyberattack and that a solution is already in the works. Apparently, the problem occurred when a faulty update was deployed to computers running Microsoft Windows.
To get a better understanding of the situation, you might be wondering what exactly caused this IT outage. Well, we've got you covered. Keep reading to find out more.
As the night wore on, some Australian airlines were finally able to assure their customers that their systems were up and running again. However, it wasn't until midnight that these reassurances were given. Jetstar, in particular, seemed to be the most affected by the outage. In fact, they had to cancel all flights in both Australia and New Zealand until the early hours of the morning. Thankfully, the airline announced that their IT systems were finally stabilizing just after midnight. As of now, Saturday's flights are still scheduled to operate as planned, so travelers are advised to proceed to the airport as usual.
On the other hand, Qantas had to deal with several issues on their website and app, including booking and managing flights, online check-in, and retrieving digital boarding passes. However, the airline has assured passengers that they should still travel to the airport for their upcoming flights. They also recommend checking the flight status for the latest information and allowing extra time for any potential delays. For those not traveling within the next 24 hours, it is best to avoid calling the contact center at this time.
It's not just Australia that was affected by this IT outage. In fact, it is estimated that around 1400 flights were disrupted worldwide on Friday, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. As a result, airports across the country advised passengers to anticipate delays and allow extra time for check-ins throughout the night.
Fortunately, by the evening, Sydney Airport reported that flights were slowly resuming their operations. To cope with the situation, the airport has activated contingency plans and deployed additional staff to assist passengers. They also advised anyone traveling that day to keep checking with their airline for any updates on their flights.
Similarly, Melbourne Airport also experienced a slow but steady return to normalcy, with Qantas and Virgin Australia starting to process passengers again. However, Jetstar and Scoot flights were still affected. The airport advised travelers to stay updated by checking with their respective airlines for any changes in flight schedules.
Brisbane Airport is also coping with the situation, as airlines are using backup systems to keep passengers moving. Airport information screens are operational, and the airport team will continue to provide updates on any major impacts.
Meanwhile, Perth Airport's check-in systems and processes are slowly returning to normal, although delays and cancellations are still expected. Adelaide Airport was also affected by the IT outage. But it wasn't just air travel that suffered disruptions - ground transport crews were also deployed to assist with traffic management in Sydney, working closely with police and emergency services. Trains were also affected, but they were back to normal by early evening. Even the train radio network in NSW was impacted. However, there were no adverse impacts on other modes of public transport or the wider train network, according to a Transport for NSW spokesperson.
Similarly, there were no major impacts on the road network, and traffic lights were operational. In Victoria, trains resumed their operations after a communication system failure forced the suspension of all VLine trains. Delays of up to 120 minutes were expected as the team worked to restore services as quickly and safely as possible. As a result, major stops like the Southern Cross station saw crowds of people waiting for delayed and canceled trains.
For those affected by the IT outage, both Jetstar and Qantas have issued statements to address the situation. Jetstar has apologized for any inconvenience caused and is working on rebooking affected customers onto new flights. They also advise checking the flight status for the latest updates and offer flexibility for those who no longer wish to travel. Similarly, Qantas has reassured passengers that their operations remain stable and are working with their partners to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. They recommend traveling to the airport for upcoming flights and allowing extra time for potential delays. For those not traveling within the next 24 hours, they advise calling the contact center at a later time.
In the end, while this IT outage may have caused chaos and disruptions for many travelers, it is reassuring to know that the situation is slowly but surely returning to normal. Let's hope that this issue will be resolved soon so that everyone can resume their travel plans without any further interruptions.
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