After a chaotic day of flight cancellations and delays due to a global IT outage, airlines worked diligently to recover and ease disruptions on Saturday. The number of canceled flights decreased significantly, with over 1,200 flights canceled worldwide, and more than 900 of them in the United States.
Previous Disruptions
The previous day saw over 5,000 canceled flights globally, with about 3,400 of them in the U.S. Additionally, more than 12,000 U.S. flights were delayed due to the IT outage. These disruptions were comparable to the impact of severe weather events, such as winter storms or tropical storms, but airlines were caught off guard without any preparation.
United Airlines’ Response
United Airlines’ Chief Operating Officer, Toby Enqvist, expressed pride in the airline’s teams for their efforts in restoring operations after the unprecedented technology outage. While United had to cancel and delay a significant number of flights, they worked tirelessly to accommodate customers during the disruption, especially ahead of a busy summer weekend.
On Saturday, there was a noticeable improvement in flight operations for major airlines. United Airlines saw a decrease in canceled flights from 22% on Friday to 7% on Saturday, according to data from FlightAware. Similarly, Delta Air Lines managed to reduce their canceled flights from 31% on Friday to about 10% on Saturday.
In response to the widespread flight disruptions caused by the IT outage, airlines took steps to assist affected customers. Many airlines waived fare differences and fees for customers dealing with canceled or delayed flights, aiming to alleviate the financial burden on travelers inconvenienced by the situation.
Overall, the recovery efforts following the global IT outage showcased the resilience and dedication of airline teams in managing unexpected disruptions. By working together and prioritizing customer care, airlines were able to gradually return to normal operations and provide assistance to travelers impacted by the exceptional circumstances.