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As airlines continue to deal with the fallout from a global IT outage on Friday, thousands of flights have been cancelled or delayed.
More than 1,000 flights were canceled and more than 2,300 delayed as of 11 a.m. ET Sunday, according to the flight tracking website Flight AwareDelta and United Airlines were the hardest hit, with 539 and 254 flights canceled so far, respectively. Endeavor Air, a wholly owned regional subsidiary of Delta, also saw significant cancellations.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, several U.S. airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, issued orders to ground all flights early Friday due to communications problems, causing a domino effect through Sunday.
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Cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike blamed the global technology outage on a glitch in a Microsoft Windows host update.
“Today was not a security or cyber incident. Our customers remain fully protected,” Crowdstrike CEO George Kurtz Posted on Friday on X.
The aviation sector has been particularly affected because of its sensitivity to timing. Airlines rely on a closely coordinated schedule that is often managed by air traffic control. A single delay of a few minutes can throw off an airport’s and an airline’s flight schedule for the rest of the day.
Are flights still grounded? How long will flight delays last?
The FAA will issue grounding orders and other flight control precautions as needed, but most of Sunday’s cancellations and delays are likely due to misplaced airline crews and equipment.
“The airline industry is severely understaffed. Once they’re out of position, they can’t run their normal operating manual because their aircraft are not in the right place to run their route,” John Haas, a professor of intelligence and cybersecurity at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, told USA Today on Saturday. “It’s no longer a single piece of software, it’s a whole system.”
Travelers are advised to contact their airlines and monitor FAA website For the latest information.
How to know why your flight is delayed
Customers can ask airlines why their flights were cancelled or delayed, but the Department of Transportation said it considers the delays and cancellations caused by Friday’s IT outage to be “controllable” by airlines. While airlines may say they did not cause the computer glitch, it means the Department of Transportation will hold them responsible for honoring commitments they made to customers when it comes to policies such as rebooking or hotel and meal vouchers while the chaos is resolved. Each airline’s policy is outlined on the Department of Transportation’s website Customer service dashboard.
the Bureau of Transportation Statistics It also tracks the reasons for delays and cancellations.
Airline Exemptions
Airlines are doing everything they can to provide additional flexibility for those affected by the disruption.
- Delta He said in statement It “continued its operational recovery on Saturday” and issued a waiver All passengers travelling on Friday are allowed to rebook their flights.
- united Issued waiver United Airlines said it is working to exempt some flights from travel restrictions at certain airports so passengers can make changes if their flights are affected, though a company spokesperson told USA TODAY that nearly all of the airline’s flights depart or arrive at one of the airports covered by the waivers.
- spirit Issue a waiver Allowing customers who have booked flights on Friday or Saturday through any airport in its network to change their flights without any additional fees.
What happens if my flight is cancelled?
Ministry of Transport Rules All airlines are required to offer customers a refund if their flights are cancelled for any reason, but customers may be eligible for additional compensation if the cancellation was within the airline’s control.
What should I do if my flight is delayed?
If your flight is experiencing a long delay, the Department of Transportation suggests asking airline staff if they will pay for meals or a hotel room.
The DOT dashboard reflects the official policies of the airlines, but many airlines handle delay compensation on a case-by-case basis and may offer vouchers or other benefits in some situations that are not officially covered.
What is considered a major flight delay?
Each airline defines major delays differently, but the Department of Transportation’s dashboard identifies airlines that offer compensation for manageable delays of 3 hours or more.
For example, all major U.S. airlines are required to offer a meal voucher for flights delayed by at least 3 hours for reasons within their control. Additionally, Alaska, JetBlue, and Southwest offer a travel credit or voucher when a manageable delay results in “passengers waiting 3 or more hours past their scheduled departure,” according to the dashboard.
How to submit a flight delay compensation claim
Passengers seeking financial compensation for delayed flights must submit a claim to their airline. Passengers seeking other types of compensation, such as frequent flyer miles, can request it through the airline’s customer service.
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