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Saturday 27 May 2017

British Airways Cancels Flights From Gatwick And Heathrow For Entire Day As 'Power Supply Issue' Crashes Global IT

Thousands of British Airways passengers are now scrambling for somewhere to stay after a global computer system crash left them stranded

Thousands of British Airways passengers are now scrambling for somewhere to stay after a global computer system crash left them stranded ahead of the busy Bank holiday weekend.
BA said a 'power supply issue' was the reason why all flights from Heathrow and Gatwick were cancelled for the rest of the day.
Chief executive Alex Cruz said the crash affected all check-in and operational systems, adding: 'We believe the root cause was a power-supply issue and we have no evidence of any cyber attack.' 



Earlier, the airline said flights would be running after 6pm - meaning passengers turning up for their evening journeys now face a mad scramble to book overnight hotel stays or organise transport back home.
Furious fliers across the UK, the US, Rome, Belfast and Lisbon - to name but a few - have been warned to expect days of chaos after enduring hours stuck in 'huge' check-in lines before being turned away. 
BA operates hundreds of flights from the two London airports on a typical day - and both are major hubs for worldwide travel. 

British Airways computer systems have crashed across the world ahead of the busy Bank holiday weekend, sparking mayhem at airports

It is feared it could take days for services to return to normal and clear the backlog of passengers, many of whom have been demanding information on how to get reimbursed for flights, hotels and food. 
Air industry consultant John Strickland said the crash would have a 'massive knock-on effect' for both customers and BA.
He said: 'From the airline's point of view, dealing with the backlog of aircraft out of position, parking spaces for the aircraft - it's a challenge and a choreographic nightmare.
He added that the problems with BA's IT systems last year were not on the scale of this issue, adding: 'They were bedding in a new check-in system last year and there were teething problem but not of the magnitude of this.
Parts of BA's website and app are not working and customers at Heathrow have been told it will take three hours to leave the airport - and they will not be able to get their bags today as the baggage system has broken down.
Several passengers reported that a captain and gate staff at Gatwick Airport said the airline could be under a cyber attack.
BA says it is working to restore services out of Heathrow and Gatwick by Sunday, though some disruptions are expected. It said London-bound long-haul flights are expected to land on schedule tomorrow.
Emily Wilson, an Australian student living in London who arrived at Heathrow at 11.30am to catch a 13.25pm flight to Stockholm, said passengers cannot get their baggage.
Many stranded passengers vented their fury online. Allison Sievers, from Colorado, wrote: Stuck on London tarmac for hours! Missed our connecting flight back home'




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