Computer glitches disrupting airline passengers aren’t unusual, though they can create flight delays long after technical issues are resolved.
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Delta flights worldwide have been grounded after a power outage took down Delta’s entire system, causing departing delays all over the world.
All flights that are “en route are operating normally”, but flights awaiting departure are delayed.
The outage was affecting flights globally, a London-based spokeswoman for the airline said.
The glitch follows several high-profile computer problems faced by USA airlines in recent months.
A range of services, including airport check-in systems, passenger advisory screens, the airline’s website and smartphone apps were affected by the systems failure. Customers headed to airports should expect delays/cancelations. The airline says customers booked on a flight from Monday through Friday can make one change to their itinerary without paying the standard fee, which ranges from $200 domestically to as much as $500 on some global itineraries.
Delta urged travelers “to check the status of their flights this morning while the issue is being addressed”.
Southwest Airlines in late July said it grounded flights because of a system outage, less than a year after a similar software problem had delayed hundreds of flights. The problem at Delta did not affect other Georgia Power customers, and there was no area-wide outage, utility spokesman John Kraft said.
Delta is the third largest airline in the United States, carrying 180 million passengers a year, a large number of whom are now standing at terminals asking questions of staff who are unable to provide much information.
“Delta passengers that have a Delta frequent flier account can receive immediate updates from Delta via email, or text messages advising them of their flight status”, Dobberstein said, adding that assumes customers requested such communication options when they enrolled in the program.
Furious customers took to Twitter to post their frustrations, with some people even covering the airport floors having to sleep there.
Bodeen said that passengers have been taking the matter in stride.
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Having given up on the long wait, sticking out five hours before he quit, Mr Taylor said: “The result for me is that I am going to have to spend a couple of long afternoons and evenings to remotely attend meetings that I really needed to attend face to face”. In midday trading, shares of Delta Air Lines Inc. rose 3 percent to $37.67.
