Indian airlines experienced technical and operational disruptions after a widespread global computer outage created chaos at airports as passenger check-ins were delayed with airlines resorting to issuing manual boarding passes. IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air saw disruptions in their online check-ins.
Indigo cancelled 192 flights across the country. Four of the services are from Thiruvananthapuram. The TVM-Bengaluru flight scheduled for 8.55 pm, the TVM-Hyderabad flight, which was to depart at 10.20 pm, the TVM-Chennai flight at 10.45 pm and another flight (details not available yet) were the cancelled services, reported Manorama News. Six flights from Kochi were also cancelled. The cancelled flights are 6E 695/HYD, IX 1132/1130 BLR, 6E 435/472 BLR, 6E 169/742/HYD, 6E 144/6922/BLR, 6E 6682/6681 HYD.
Indigo reportedly said the services from Thiruvananthapuram were cancelled as the flights, which were to arrive in Thiruvananthapuram first before returning to these cities, couldn't arrive at the state capital due to the CrowdStrike Issue. The outage also threw many travel plans into disarray with passengers facing difficulty in booking tickets and claiming refunds for the cancelled services. Get more details on the cancelled flights, here.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu assured the passengers that his ministry and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) are actively managing the situation using manual methods to ensure minimal disruption. "We have instructed all airlines and airport authorities to keep passengers informed about their flight status and provide necessary assistance," Naidu said. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said his ministry was in touch with Microsoft and added that the NIC network is not affected.
Budget carrier Akasa said, "Due to infrastructure issues with our service provider, some of our online services, including booking, check-in and manage booking services will be temporarily unavailable. Currently, we are following manual check-in and boarding processes at the airports." The airline requested its passengers with immediate travel plans to reach the airport early to check in, as a precautionary measure.
SpiceJet also said it is experiencing technical challenges with its service provider, affecting online services including booking, check-in, and managing booking functionalities. "As a result, we have activated manual check-in and boarding processes across airports," it stated.
Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport saw as many as 23 flights -- 12 departures and 11 arrivals -- including Indigo's flights to Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru being cancelled. "We are closely working with all our stakeholders to minimise the inconvenience to our flyers. You may please get in touch with the airline concerned for updates on your flight information. We thank you for your support and understanding," the airport, run by GMR, said in a post on social media platform X.
In Bengaluru, Indigo, Air India Express, SpiceJet and Akasa issued handwritten boarding passes. Passengers complained of harrowing times following the disruption in flight services and were seen anxiously waiting for their delayed flights. The lounge of the KIA was overcrowded due to the disruption of in-flight services. "A global outage with the Navitaire Departure Control System (NDCS) has been affecting operations of some airlines across their network, including BLR Airport since 10.40 IST on July 19, 2024," a Bangalore International Airport Ltd spokesperson said in a statement.
Indigo, Akasa, and SpiceJet in Terminal-1 and Air India Express in Terminal-2 are among the affected airlines, BIAL said, adding that the Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE) and Common Use Self Service (CUSS) systems are also experiencing disruptions. "In response to this situation, Indigo, Air India Express, SpiceJet and Akasa have taken proactive measures by initiating manual check-ins to ensure minimal disruption to passengers and flight schedules," the spokesperson said.
