Ryanair has asked passengers whose flights have been cancelled due to a global IT outage to leave the airport and return home. The airline states it cannot currently assist affected passengers at the airport.
UK airports have been thrown into chaos after an issue with a Microsoft Windows update triggered a global IT outage. CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm, confirmed that a “bug” related to a software update caused the outage. It was not a security incident or cyberattack.
Long queues have formed at airports, including Manchester, Gatwick, Luton, and Edinburgh, as flights have been cancelled and airlines have switched to manual check-in processes. According to aviation analytics company Cirium, 1,396 flights have been cancelled globally, including 43 UK departures.
Ryanair initially asked passengers to arrive early for their flights to avoid disruption. However, in a new statement this afternoon, the airline advised those with cancelled flights to leave the airport, as they cannot be assisted due to the IT outage.
Unfortunately, we’ve been forced to cancel a small number of flights today due to this global third-party IT outage,” the statement reads. “Affected passengers have been notified and are advised to log into their myRyanair account once systems are back online to see their options.”
“If your flight has been cancelled, we kindly request that you leave the airport as the IT outage means we cannot currently assist passengers at the airport. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused by this global third-party IT outage, and we are working hard to minimise disruption and keep passengers informed.
The IT outage has caused significant disruptions worldwide, impacting various sectors including aviation, retail, and healthcare. At UK airports, huge queues have formed as passengers face delays and cancellations.
Impact on Travelers and Recommendations
Passengers traveling today are advised to avoid checking in luggage if possible. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel magazine, offered advice to anyone heading to a UK airport, stating, “If you can, avoid checking in a bag as queues for check-in at the airport will be long and IT failures typically lead to lots of lost bags. If you do check-in bags, make sure you keep medication, keys, and any other essentials in your hand luggage.”
He also noted that passengers would not be eligible for compensation for delayed or cancelled flights due to the “extraordinary circumstances” but stressed that airlines have a duty to look after them, including providing meals, accommodation, and alternative flight bookings if necessary.
Broader Implications
The global IT outage, caused by a faulty update from CrowdStrike, has had widespread effects, from grounding flights and disrupting train services to impacting NHS operations and causing shops to close or go cash-only. This incident highlights the critical dependence on digital infrastructure and the far-reaching impact of IT failures.
CrowdStrike’s CEO, George Kurtz, has acknowledged the issue and stated that the company is working with affected customers to resolve the problem. Meanwhile, Microsoft has advised users to reboot their computers multiple times to potentially resolve the issue.
As the situation develops, passengers are advised to stay updated with their airlines and check for the latest information regarding their flights.
