British Airways resolves tech issue following flight delays

British Airways (BA) passengers faced extensive delays at airports across the UK and internationally on Monday evening after a technical issue disrupted the airline’s operations. The problems began around 5:00 PM GMT, leaving passengers stranded on tarmacs and unable to check in or book flights.

Social media posts from frustrated travellers revealed scenes of confusion, with many waiting in cold weather without clear information about their flights. One passenger described standing on the tarmac in a chilly Verona while waiting for an already delayed flight. Similar reports emerged from passengers in Hamburg, Naples, Lyon, and Düsseldorf, all of whom experienced delays due to the IT failure.

British Airways confirmed that a technical problem affecting its computer systems caused the widespread disruption on Monday. The airline issued an apology to customers for the delays and stated that efforts were made to ensure passengers reached their destinations. BA emphasized that no flights were canceled and declared the issue resolved by Monday evening.

However, industry experts warned of potential knock-on effects impacting Tuesday’s flight schedules. Travel journalist Simon Calder estimated that tens of thousands of passengers might have been affected. Despite this, he noted that most delays were limited to one or two hours.

The disruption’s scale was underscored by a surge in complaints about the BA website logged by monitoring service Downdetector after 5:00 PM. Passengers reported difficulties checking in, booking flights, and generating loading data for aircraft. Some also pointed out that communication issues within the airline exacerbated the situation, with staff reportedly struggling to coordinate effectively during the outage.

The incident adds to a series of technical failures BA has faced in recent years, raising concerns about its operational resilience. While the immediate issue has been resolved, the airline could face scrutiny over its ability to prevent similar disruptions in the future.

Heathrow Airport, one of BA’s major hubs, confirmed that its own systems were unaffected by the airline’s technical problems. However, the incident underscores a recurring issue for BA, which has faced several high-profile IT failures in recent years. Previous disruptions in May 2022, February 2020, and spring 2017 similarly caused chaos for passengers, including during peak travel periods.

Travelers expressed their frustration on social media, raising concerns about the airline’s recurring vulnerability to IT issues. Some described being left stranded on tarmacs without updates, calling the experience unacceptable. Many also criticized the lack of communication from British Airways staff, noting difficulties in coordinating with colleagues during the disruption.

BA has not disclosed the precise nature of the technical issue but stated that it has taken steps to prevent a recurrence. As operations normalize, affected passengers have been urged to check their flight status and allow extra time at the airport to mitigate any residual delays.

While the airline has resolved the immediate crisis, the incident raises questions about its IT resilience, particularly as it heads into the busy holiday travel season. Frequent disruptions of this nature risk eroding customer confidence and could prompt calls for significant investment in BA’s infrastructure to avoid future crises.