A mass outage on Microsoft systems has caused chaos around the world, including Europe, leading to major problems for travellers.
The IT outage has affected all types of systems that rely on Microsoft, and has grounded many flights, causing long queues and delays at airports, Schengen.News reports.
While the cause of this mass IT outage is still unknown, Microsoft said that it is taking all the necessary measures to deal with the impact of this disruption.
Passengers who will be flying today until the systems are back to normal have been advised to check the airlines’ websites and social media accounts to stay updated with the most recent information.
Moreover, all passengers have been recommended to arrive at the airport at least two hours before their flight unless the airport or airlines has advised otherwise in order to avoid long queues.
Those travelling with children and the elderly have been advised to take water and refreshments in case there are delays.
KLM Suspends Operations While Lufthansa Is Less Affected
KLM is one of the European airlines that is currently worst affected by the IT outage.
Through an official statement on its X account, KLM said that they are working to resolve the problems and at the same time noted that they have to largely suspend operations.
We realise that this is very inconvenient for our customers and staff, particularly in the midst of the summer holiday season. We’re working hard to resolve the problem. Until then, we will have to largely suspend operations.
In contrast, as Euronews explains, Lufthansa appears to be less affected by the outage, with the airlines having only a few delays and cancellations today.
Other airlines, such as Ryanair and Vueling, have also issued recommendations for their passengers. Ryanair advised passengers to arrive at the airport at least three hours before their departure, while Vueling announced that flights will be altered and that everyone will receive emails if their flight is affected.
Are You Entitled to Claim Compensation If Your Flight Is Cancelled or Delayed Due to IT Outage?
Due to the complexity of the situation, it is still unclear what the passenger compensation rights are in such cases.
In line with the current EU law, all passengers whose flight is cancelled or delayed for more than three hours are eligible for a full refund and sometimes compensation.
However, there are exemptions when the delay or cancellation is not the airline’s fault.
Since the airlines do not have control over this situation, it is yet to be determined what the exact compensation rights will be for those who have been affected by the IT outage.
