Dozens more UK flights cancelled as impact of Microsoft IT outage stretches into weekend

An estimated 50,000 British travellers have woken up this morning where they had no intention of being after 350 flights to, from and within the UK were cancelled on Friday.

At least 45 more flights to, from and within the UK were cancelled on Saturday as airlines struggle to get their operations back on track, affecting more than 7,000 passengers.

So what are your options to get where you need to be?

Putting Friday into context?

Friday 19 July was expected to be the busiest day in five years, with more planes leaving British airports than at any time since the pandemic.

On a day like this, everything needs to go smoothly, but delays and cancellations began almost immediately. Online check-in for some airlines stopped working and departure screens at many airports went blank.

When everything returned to the analogue era, delays quickly occurred and the complex choreography required to get everyone safely on holiday was undone.

The failure could not have come at a worse time, when there was virtually no room for maneuver in the system. In that sense, it is like the August bank holiday failure at the Nationals. But unlike previous failures, this one was truly global.

Where did the worst effects occur?

For once, not in the UK. Amsterdam Airport, one of Europe’s largest, had a terrible day, one of the reasons why thousands of Britons were stranded, because they had connecting flights with KLM.

Its sister airline, Air France, had similar problems at its hub in Paris. Eurowings, the low-cost subsidiary of German airline Lufthansa, cancelled dozens of flights connecting airports such as Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and London Heathrow with several cities in Germany.

But amid the chaos and confusion, British Airways cancelled more than 60 flights, mostly to and from London’s Heathrow airport, but also a dozen at London City airport. Many cancellations came at the last minute.

Ryanair has cancelled a total of 38 flights to and from London Stansted, which at current booking levels represents more than 7,000 passengers.

There were also some extreme delays.

How do things look on Saturday?

A mix of planned cancellations – for example, British Airways flights from various points in Europe to London because the outbound plane did not leave – and others where planes, pilots and cabin crew are out of position because of all the disruptions on Friday.

As for places where there are large numbers of Britons trying to get home, I would highlight Amsterdam, with dozens of cancellations on Friday, and Naples, where easyJet and Wizz cancelled flights and British Airways grounded two.

Cancellations on Saturday

Heathrow Airport

British Airways to/from Mumbai, Houston, Washington DC, Brussels, Rome.

Lufthansa Munich

Virgin Atlantic New York

Aer Lingus Dublin

Gatwick

easyJet Geneva, Palma

British Airways Malaga

City of London

British Airways Ibiza and Nice.

Luton

Wizz Air Bucharest

Manchester

Aer Lingus New York

Edinburgh

easyJet Geneva, Basel, Dubrovnik

KLM Amsterdam

united chicago

What are passengers’ rights?

European rules on air passenger rights specify that any airline that cancels a flight must provide stranded passengers with an alternative means of reaching their destination as quickly as possible, as well as a hotel and meals while they wait.

In practice, however, in times of severe disruption, passengers are simply told: “Do what you want and then claim a refund.” In addition to the new flights, meals (not alcohol), accommodation and local transport (not by stretch limousine) should be refunded upon presentation of receipts.

Will passengers be able to claim cash back in addition to all the inconvenience?

According to the airlines, no. EasyJet was quick to inform passengers that flights had been cancelled: “This is due to some IT issues affecting a number of airports across Europe. This disruption is not limited to EasyJet and is affecting all airlines, which is considered an extraordinary circumstance beyond our control.”

But I dare say that a lawyer could argue the opposite and say that the choice of software providers was certainly within the airlines’ control. But I don’t recommend that you embark on a long legal battle. Your travel insurance may provide you with a token payment for the delay.

How much has this cost the airlines?

Millions. Hotel and flight costs are one thing, but many people will have abandoned their trips and claimed refunds on fares that are the most expensive they have ever received; that is revenue that will have to be paid back.

Are we likely to see more disruptions during the summer?

Hopefully, it is just “business as usual” – the combination of bad weather, delays in air traffic control and technical problems that characterise every busy day.

Meanwhile, there are warnings of long delays at Dover. Are these related to the IT problems?

No. Ferry company DFDS is reporting two-and-a-half-hour waits at Dover to clear border control and check in. This is due to the volume of traffic, rather than yesterday’s IT problems. P&O is also warning of long queues on the roads leading to the port.

Long waits for French border controls are now a regular occurrence during the third weekend in July. Passport checks have prompted the port of Dover to warn of waits of up to two hours just to get through border control. But the strongest advice for motorists heading to Dover is: