Kenya Airways (KQ) has alerted its customers to expect significant disruptions following a global system outage that has impacted its booking systems.
The national carrier announced on Friday, July 19, 2024, that passengers should prepare for potential flight delays and cancellations as a result of this widespread technological failure.
In an official statement, Kenya Airways explained, “We are currently experiencing a system outage that has affected our booking system as a result of a global system outage. Customers are advised to expect slower than usual service as we implement our Business Continuity Plan.”
The airline has apologized for the inconvenience caused and urged passengers to visit their booking offices for assistance.
“Customers can visit our booking offices to get assistance. We apologize for any inconveniences caused. We will share further updates once the issue is resolved,” the statement read.
The global technology outage has wreaked havoc on businesses and institutions across multiple countries, including airlines, government services, banks, supermarkets, telecoms, and media outlets.
The disruption’s cause was not immediately clear, but it followed an earlier announcement from Microsoft addressing issues affecting access to Microsoft 365 apps and services.
The problem has been linked to CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm whose software is widely used to protect against cyber threats.
The outage reportedly resulted in crashes of machines running the Microsoft Windows operating system.
CrowdStrike acknowledged the issue, stating in a recorded phone message that it was aware of reports of Microsoft’s Windows operating system crashing.
Global Impact on Airlines
In the United States, major airlines such as Delta, United, and American Airlines were grounded on Friday morning due to a communication issue, according to an update from the Federal Aviation Administration.
In Australia, flight information screens at Sydney Airport went blank, and self-service checkouts at supermarket chains Woolworths and Coles displayed error messages. Sydney Airport confirmed that flights were still arriving and departing but warned travellers to expect delays.
Airports across the United Kingdom, Germany, Malaysia, and the Philippines also reported service disruptions.
In Spain, the airport operator Aena announced that all airports were experiencing disruptions due to an IT system incident, potentially causing delays.
Air France stated that its operations were affected by the outage, although flights already en route were not impacted.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Airport Authority reported that affected airlines had switched to manual check-in procedures, ensuring flight operations continued without significant disruption.
Kenya Airways, like many other carriers worldwide, is striving to mitigate the effects of this unprecedented technological failure.
Passengers are advised to stay updated through official channels and to plan for possible delays and cancellations as the situation develops.