Lately, disruptions within Microsoft have had a surprising impact on aviation, leaving some travelers scratching their heads. Who would have thought that a digital outage could disrupt airports? Flight delays and cancellations are piling up, and travelers have questions: which airports are affected and, above all, how to get their money back if their flight has been delayed? In this article, we will provide you with all the essential answers to best navigate this tumult. Prepare to take off towards serenity, because we have the keys in hand to help you deal with this unexpected situation.
Airports affected by global IT outage
A gigantic computer outage shook many sectors this Friday, and the aviation sector is no exception. The origin comes from a failure at Microsoft, impacting several critical services. This disruption affected major cities and their airports. Among these, we find:
- Berlin
- Edinburgh
- Amsterdam-Schiphol
- Zurich (which has temporarily suspended landings until 2:30 p.m.)
- Hong Kong
- Delhi
To UNITED STATES, major airlines had to suspend their flights. In Europe, the situation is similar. Ryanair warned its passengers of “potential disruptions” on its network, and KLM also indicated that flight management was impossible. Transavia France has confirmed disruptions, resulting in grounded planes and long queues.
Impact in France: what is the situation?
In France, the effects of the outage seem more moderate. Air France said its operations had returned to normal, although some flights to Amsterdam and Berlin were affected earlier in the day. Orly and Roissy airports experienced slowdowns and some delays due to indirect repercussions.
The company Transavia France announced delays and cancellations, with 38 flights canceled so far. Beauvais airport reported delays of around 30 minutes for Ryanair and Wizz Air flights. Delays were also reported in Lyon Saint-Exupéry and Marseille-Provence.
How to get reimbursed in the event of a flight delay or cancellation?
If your flight is delayed or canceled, you are entitled to a refund. If you do not wish to reschedule your flight, you can request a refund. In the event of cancellation, the European regulation n°261/2004 applies. Here’s what’s covered:
- Ticket refund within seven days
- Booking another flight to the final destination
Since June 30, 2023, online travel agencies must reimburse customers within a maximum of 14 days in the event of flight cancellation.
“ A priori, we are in a case of force majeure, given the unprecedented nature of the situation. Airlines will therefore be able to invoke unavoidable extraordinary circumstances to avoid paying lump sum compensation. »
Thomas Gonçalves, lawyer at the National Consumer Institute
European regulations also apply to international carriers under certain conditions. Outside the EU, such as in the UK, this regulation applies if the flight is departing from or heading to a country in the European Union. Companies must inform passengers of flight changes as soon as possible.
What rights do passengers have while waiting for new flights?
Airlines must provide assistance to passengers waiting for a new flight. You are entitled to:
- Meals and drinks
- Accommodation if the flight does not take off the same day
- Two phone calls, faxes or emails
It is also possible to request financial compensation based on the number of kilometers of the flight and the cumulative delay. However, if companies can prove that the cancellation was due to unavoidable extraordinary circumstances, they are not required to pay this compensation.
Do not hesitate to contact the Tourism and Travel mediator in the event of an unresolved dispute with the airline.
