Delta Resumes Flights Following Computer Glitch

Delta Airlines said it has resumed flights on a limited basis following a power cut that disrupted its computer systems around the world.

The carrier, which is the world’s third-largest, said passengers should expect further delays and cancellations due to the knock-on effect from earlier problems.

Flights grounded

Delta grounded all flights earlier today, saying an overnight power outage in Atlanta, Georgia, near its headquarters, caused computer systems to crash. Flights en route were not affected.

“We are aware that flight status systems, including airport screens, are incorrectly showing flights on time,” Delta said in a statement.

Thousands of travellers at airports including Heathrow, Stuttgart, Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO), Brussels Airport, Los Angeles International, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and San Francisco International, were stranded by the computer glitch, according to messages posted on Twitter.

Passenger waiver

The crash, which began at around 7:30 BST (2:30 a.m. ET) on Monday, affected “several applications, including our website,” Delta said in a Twitter post.

The airline said it would grant a waiver to all passengers travelling between 8 August and 12 August, meaning they would be entitled to refunds and to book another flight, even if their travel was not disrupted.

Heathrow Airport said check-in was currently operating using a back-up system.

Individuals posted images of long queues of stranded passengers at airports around the world and a San Francisco man said he and other passengers were asked to leave a plane they had already boarded after waiting for more than an hour.

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