July 22nd 2024.
For the past three days, there has been a major issue causing chaos in the airline industry. More than 1500 flights in the US have been cancelled, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at various airports. This problem has affected not only flights within the United States, but also those coming into and going out of the country. According to FlightAware.com, 1600 flights have been cancelled within the US, while over 8500 flights have been delayed.
Out of all the cancellations, more than 1000 of them were from Delta Air Lines, one of the major carriers in the US. The issue stemmed from a global tech outage, which Delta has confirmed was caused by an outside vendor's technology issue. This caused a ripple effect, resulting in a large number of delays and cancellations for the airline. In response, Delta has been offering travel vouchers, waivers, and even SkyMiles Program miles to impacted customers.
In an update to their customers, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian stated that their teams are working tirelessly to restore their system and resume operations. Cancelling flights is not an easy decision for the airline, and it is only done as a last resort. This is a sentiment shared by other airlines, as FlightAware reports that on Saturday alone, over 2136 flights were cancelled among multiple carriers.
The issue goes beyond just the airline industry though. Businesses, government agencies, health and emergency services, banks, schools, and universities around the world have all been affected by a flawed software update for Microsoft Windows operating systems. This update was issued by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike and has impacted an estimated 8.5 million Windows devices, according to Microsoft. In response, CrowdStrike has deployed a fix, but experts say that getting all systems back in order will be a lengthy process.
Major airlines have stated that services are being restored, but there may still be delays and disruptions in the coming days. United Airlines has reported that a majority of their systems have recovered, but they are still anticipating possible delays and cancellations. Delta has also announced that they will be pausing unaccompanied minor travel until Wednesday due to the outage. American Airlines, on the other hand, stated that they have safely reestablished their operation and are offering travel waivers to impacted customers.
Despite the flawed computer update being rolled back, it will still take time for airlines to fully recover. This is due to the fact that they have computers at thousands of gates that will need to be manually rebooted. David Kennedy, co-founder of cybersecurity company Binary Defense, explained to CNN that this process is not as simple as it may seem and will require a lot of time and effort. With limited personnel at airports, this task will prove to be quite challenging.
The US Department of Transportation has determined that the flight delays and cancellations resulting from the system outage are within the control of the airlines. As such, they are required to adhere to their customer service commitments. However, there have been reports of some airlines only offering flight credits to passengers for cancelled flights. In response, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has made it clear that passengers are entitled to a refund if their flight is cancelled and they choose not to rebook.
Amidst this chaos, travelers have been left frustrated and upset as their plans have been thwarted. At Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, the world's busiest airport, officials have implemented a "concessions crisis plan" to ensure that passengers have access to food and other necessary amenities while they wait for their flights. However, some travelers have expressed frustration at the lack of assistance and proper communication from the airlines. Many have been forced to sleep on the airport floor, including children, with no action being taken to improve their situation.
Passengers at other airports across the country have also experienced long lines and delays in getting assistance. Some have even had their flights cancelled without any notification, leaving them in a state of uncertainty. Thousands of people are currently facing these same challenges as they wait in crowded airports, hoping for answers and a resolution to their travel plans.
For some, this has been a major inconvenience, while for others, it has had a significant impact on their lives. Richard Whitfield and Jonathan Shade, a couple from Florida, have been trying to get back home for two days now, but have faced multiple cancellations and delays. They have been unable to get any assistance from Delta, despite spending hours on hold and being given numbers in the thousands for their place in the virtual customer service queue. This experience has left them feeling frustrated and exhausted.
As the airlines work to recover from this tech outage, passengers can only wait and hope for the best. In the meantime, they are left to deal with the immediate effects of the cancellations and delays, such as finding a place to stay and getting refunds or rebooking their flights. This has been a trying time for many travelers, but hopefully, with the efforts of the airlines and other involved parties, this issue can be resolved soon.
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