British Airways says ‘tech issue’ resolved after delays

British Airways (BA) faced significant disruption on Monday afternoon after a technical issue affected its computer systems, leaving passengers stranded on the tarmac at multiple airports both in the UK and internationally. The disruption, which began around 17:00, led to delays and confusion for thousands of travellers. While the airline has since claimed the issue has been resolved, the incident raised concerns about the reliability of its systems and the broader impact on passengers.

Passengers took to social media to report the chaos, with many describing being left in the cold at airports for extended periods of time without clear communication regarding the status of their flights. One traveller in Verona shared their experience on social media, saying they were “being made to stand on the tarmac in a very cold Verona waiting for an already delayed flight.”

The issue was traced back to a problem affecting BA’s computer systems, which disrupted operations across several airports. The airline confirmed that delays were caused by the failure of some of its key systems but assured passengers that no flights had been cancelled. BA issued an apology to those affected, assuring them that the delays would be resolved and that customers would be able to reach their destinations.

Travel experts estimate that the technical failure could have impacted tens of thousands of passengers. According to Simon Calder, a travel journalist and expert, the delays were primarily limited to one or two hours, although the full extent of the disruption remains unclear. The problem affected both domestic flights within the UK as well as international services, with passengers reporting delays in cities such as Hamburg, Naples, Lyon, and Dusseldorf.

The disruption also affected BA’s ability to process bookings and check-ins for several flights. Some travellers reported issues with BA’s online check-in system, saying that “the systems are down” and that they were unable to book flights. As reports of the technical glitch spread, Downdetector, a website that tracks internet outages, showed a significant spike in complaints about BA’s website, indicating widespread problems with the airline’s digital services.

A Heathrow Airport spokesperson confirmed that while BA experienced technical difficulties, the airport’s own systems were functioning normally. However, there were reports from passengers that pilots were unable to generate crucial loading data for their flights, and there were delays in reaching necessary colleagues by phone, further exacerbating the situation.

The airline’s technical difficulties have raised concerns about the resilience of BA’s IT systems. This is not the first time the airline has faced major disruption due to technical failures. In May 2023, BA experienced a similar IT breakdown that grounded flights, and similar incidents occurred in spring 2017 and February 2020. Each time, the airline has faced significant backlash for its inability to prevent such failures and mitigate their impact on customers.

The disruption on Monday evening raised further concerns that delays could ripple through to the following day, affecting Tuesday’s flights. BA’s internal sources indicated that the situation was gradually coming under control, but the knock-on effects of the delays were still being assessed. Some passengers, still stranded in airports, expressed frustration over the lack of clear communication from BA regarding the status of their flights and the reasons behind the technical issue.

Although BA insisted that the issue had been resolved, the incident highlighted the vulnerability of airline operations that rely heavily on complex IT systems. The glitch, which began in the late afternoon, caused delays at multiple international airports and saw many passengers enduring extended wait times on planes or in terminals. The airline’s efforts to resolve the issue were complicated by the lack of accessible information for affected passengers, some of whom were left wondering when they would be able to travel.

British Airways has faced criticism over the years for its handling of operational failures, and this latest disruption serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring robust and reliable IT systems to support global travel operations. Despite the apology and reassurances from the airline, the incident has caused significant inconvenience to many travellers, some of whom were left stranded for hours without adequate explanations or support. As the airline works to prevent further delays, it is clear that improving communication and system reliability should be a priority moving forward.