Mumbai July 19, 2024: A significant disruption in Microsoft Corporation’s cloud services has led to widespread flight cancellations and delays globally, impacting major airlines in India on Friday. This outage has forced several airlines, including IndiGo, Akasa Airlines, and SpiceJet, to ground planes and disrupt flight operations at key airports such as Mumbai and Delhi.
Major Flight Cancellations
IndiGo, one of India’s largest airlines, faced severe disruptions, canceling nearly 200 flights. The airline issued a statement explaining, “Flights are cancelled due to the cascading effect of the worldwide travel system outage, beyond our control. The option to rebook/claim a refund is temporarily unavailable. We truly appreciate your patience and support.”
SpiceJet navigates technical turbulence flawlessly! We're thrilled to have operated ALL scheduled flights today, despite global technical challenges! Zero cancellations due to the outage. Huge thanks to our team & passengers for their patience.#SpiceJet #ReliableTravel… pic.twitter.com/sJoo72DDUW
— SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) July 19, 2024
Akasa Air and SpiceJet also reported significant delays and operational challenges. Akasa Air stated, “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 and hence request passengers with immediate travel plans to reach the airport early to check-in at our counters. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused and want to assure you that our teams are working with our service provider to resolve the same at the earliest.”
Government and Airport Responses
Minister for Civil Aviation, Rammohan Naidu, directed airport authorities and airlines to provide extra seating, water, and food to passengers stranded due to the disruptions. He stated, “We understand your concerns and are working tirelessly to manage operations. Please cooperate with airport staff. Your patience is greatly appreciated as we ensure your safe and swift travel.”
Delhi Airport also responded, urging passengers to stay in touch with their respective airlines for updated flight information. “We are closely working with all our stakeholders to minimise the inconvenience to our flyers. Passengers are requested to be in touch with the airline concerned or the help desk on the ground for updated flight information,” a statement from the airport read.
Microsoft’s Response
A spokesperson from Microsoft acknowledged the issue, attributing it to an update from a third-party software platform. The spokesperson added, “We are aware of an issue affecting Windows devices due to an update from a third-party software platform. We anticipate a resolution soon.”
IndiGo confirmed the cause of the disruption on social media, posting, “Our systems are currently impacted by a Microsoft outage, which is also affecting other companies. During this time booking, check-in, access to your boarding pass, and some flights may be impacted. We appreciate your patience.”
On-Ground Challenges
Visuals from inside the affected airports showed long queues and frustrated passengers stranded in terminals. Airlines have deployed additional staff to manage the situation manually and assist passengers with their travel needs.
Vistara also reported technical challenges across various aspects of their operations due to the global outage. The airline assured passengers that they are working diligently with their service provider to resolve the issues as quickly as possible.
The widespread disruption caused by the Microsoft cloud services outage has significantly impacted airline operations worldwide, with a notable effect on Indian airlines and airports. Authorities and airlines are working around the clock to restore normalcy and assist passengers during this challenging period. Passengers are advised to stay updated with their airlines for the latest information regarding their flights.
