Global blackout: 12 flights cancelled, 20 delayed at Lko

The global Microsoft outage also affected flight operations at Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport on Friday, with 12 flights (six arrivals and six departures) cancelled.

The outage caused significant disruption, affecting several critical processes such as booking, check-in and access to boarding passes. As a result, 20 flights were delayed, including 14 departures, inconveniencing many passengers.

Passengers waiting in line have been advised to check with their respective airlines for updated flight information and allow extra time for check-in and other airport procedures while the system recovery process continues.

Hundreds of passengers who had come to catch a plane had to return home depressed after airlines cancelled their flights for reasons beyond their control.

Despite the efforts, the disruptions have left travellers frustrated, with many having to change their plans at the last minute. As is to be expected in this context, some passengers have had heated arguments with airline staff when they are told their flights have been cancelled.

Lucknow airport spokesperson said, “The IT outage not only affected flights but also the functioning of banks, trading, payment systems etc. The IT outage disrupted the day-to-day work at the airport. Everyone knows that these systems and technologies are designed to streamline operations and improve efficiency, but if such an outage occurs, it can lead to widespread disruption. The number of cancelled flights would have been higher if most airlines had not resorted to manual work.”