Problems with British Airways’ IT systems left thousands of passengers facing flight cancellations, delays and long queues at airports in the airline’s third major computer failure in a little more than two years.
Wednesday’s woes are the latest in a string of problems at the airline, which is also smarting from a $230 million fine this month for a huge customer data breach and is bracing for potential strikes in a pay dispute with its pilots.
BA, owned by International Airlines Group, apologized to customers for Wednesday’s disruption and said its technical team was working to resolve the problems as soon as possible. It urged customers to allow extra time at airports.
Dozens of flights were canceled or delayed, including flights to Greece, Spain, Italy and Russia, according to the departure boards at British airports.
BA would not confirm how many people have been affected by the IT problems but said that it was experiencing a “systems issue” affecting check-in and flight departures at Heathrow, Gatwick and London City airports.
Customers have experienced issues checking in online, while others complained of being stuck on planes unable to take off for hours.
Stuart Jackson, a photography business manager, said he was stuck on a grounded plane at Heathrow and had already missed his connecting flight, disrupting months of planning and wasting thousands of pounds.
“When I do arrive, I will have to just fly home again,” he said on Twitter. “BA is a complete catastrophe and I will never fly with them again.”
A little more than a year ago BA was forced to cancel flights at Heathrow, Europe’s biggest airport, after problems with a supplier’s IT system. And in May 2017 a massive computer system failure because of a power supply issue left 75,000 customers stranded.
British Airways said it has moved to back-up manual systems to keep some flights operating and it is offering customers the chance to rebook for another day.
Customers, meanwhile, continued to take to social media to voice their anger.
Jamie Boswell said his flight was cancelled while he was attempting to check in. “Very busy to rebook. Not ideal with a one-year-old,” he said.
About half of the British Airways flights scheduled to depart from Heathrow’s terminal five between 0930 and midday were canceled or delayed, according to the airport’s website.

British Airways flights disrupted by IT failures

Passengers wait in long queues at Heathrow Airport as IT problems caused flight delays in London on August 7, 2019, in this picture obtained from social media. (Reuters)
Reuters, London
Wednesday 07 August 2019
Last Update: Wednesday, 20 May 2020 KSA 10:00 - GMT 07:00
DAY | WEEK |
-
5018 Views COVID-19 vaccine might be needed every year: UAE health spokesperson
-
2810 Views Coronavirus: Dubai changes travel protocols for inbound passengers from Jan. 31
-
2266 Views Lebanese workers thrust into poverty, depression amid COVID-19 lockdown
-
1537 Views After Biden freezes F-35 sale to UAE, Otaiba: We expected a review under new US admin
-
888 Views US says Eritrean forces should leave Tigray after reports of rights abuses
-
712 Views COVID-19 crisis ‘requires fundamental rethink’ in how world functions: PIF Governor
-
24652 Views Coronavirus: Dubai temporarily postpones Pfizer vaccine campaign amid global shortage
-
19988 Views Saudi Arabia’s PIF to invest 3 trillion riyals over next 10 years: Crown Prince
-
18443 Views Loud explosion heard in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh
-
10966 Views Saudi Arabia’s King Salman issues several new royal decrees
-
10484 Views Full moon to align directly above Kaaba in Mecca on Jan. 28
-
8800 Views Coronavirus: Dubai restaurants offer discounts for vaccinated diners
SHOW MORE