BA cancels all flights from major London airports after IT failure

Some travellers claimed they were not informed about cancelled flights until more than an hour after BA told media

LONDON: British Airways cancelled all its flights out of major London airports Heathrow and Gatwick on Saturday after a computer systems failure, causing chaos for thousands of passengers on a busy holiday weekend.

"We have experienced a major IT system failure that is causing very severe disruption to our flight operations worldwide," BA said.

https://twitter.com/British_Airways/status/868507566896271360

BA flights out of Heathrow and Gatwick were initially cancelled until 1700 GMT but the airline later said there would be no flights for the rest of the day.

The breakdown took out all of the carrier's check-in and operational systems and affected call centres and its website, but did not appear to be a cyber attack, according to a video statement by chairman and chief executive Alex Cruz. Britain is still recovering from a ransomware attack that crippled crucial infrastructure earlier this month.



"We believe the root cause was a power supply issue," said Cruz, adding that IT teams were working "tirelessly" to fix the problems. "We will make arrangements to get customers on their way as soon as we possibly can."

Full refunds will be given to customers who decide they no longer wish to travel, Cruz said. The airline said it was battling to operate long-haul inbound flights late Saturday to land in London on Sunday.

pic.twitter.com/E7B5im0C09

— British Airways (@British_Airways) May 27, 2017

The outage comes on a busy weekend in Britain, where Monday is a public holiday and many schoolchildren are beginning their half-term break.

BA warned people not to come to the "extremely congested" airports.

An AFP photographer at Heathrow's Terminal 5 said many travellers were waiting outside the departure area with their luggage in 'chaotic' scenes. They were not being allowed inside the terminal for health and safety reasons, prompting some of them to leave in taxis.

Travellers wait stranded at Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 after British Airways flights where cancelled at Heathrow Airport in west London on May 27, 2017. PHOTO: AFP

Travellers wrote on Twitter that they were unable to check in or use the airline's app, while others said they had been left stranded on the tarmac.



"None of your staff know what the heck is going on. Nor do your passengers. Can we have some info please? Chaos here," tweeted Chris Ship, Royal Editor for ITV News, to BA.

No check in. No bags working. Queues everywhere. Planes cancelled. No information. No help. Not even a tannoy
Massive @British_Airways #fail pic.twitter.com/xkwy5ZSOLV

— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) May 27, 2017

One passenger, Julie Adie, wrote that she had been stuck on the runway for an hour without an offer of drinks.

https://twitter.com/Julieadie1/status/868405983915257856

Another Twitter user called Jo described the situation as a "terrorist's dream", writing that "people getting off plane with/without luggage. Some staying on".

9 hours after leaving home I am back home. Thanks British Airways. Sat on plane for 5 hours and drank 3 glasses of champagne! :(

— Miss Jo (@therealmissjo) May 27, 2017

Dan Abrams wrote that it had taken him three hours just to leave Heathrow's Terminal 5, adding that there was "total mayhem here. No supervision".

My dad and I freed from @British_Airways Heathrow jail. Five + hours of lines to LEAVE airport. Silver lining? Met some huge #livepd fans!

— Dan Abrams (@danabrams) May 27, 2017

BA said they were working to restore services from Sunday, but warned that some delays and disruption could continue. Delays were reported in other European cities including Rome, Prague, Milan, Stockholm and Malaga.

Inside Heathrow's Terminal 5, Luke Hallard wrote that "everyone remarkably calm despite British Airways chaos, but wait until the lounge runs out of booze".

BA official position on refunds for cancellations and delays today. Please retweet to those outside the airport @British_Airways #BA pic.twitter.com/APbDGeehK4

— Luke Hallard (@7LukeHallard) May 27, 2017

Some travellers said they were not informed that their flights had been cancelled until more than an hour after the airline told the media.

"We were told (it would be) about three hours for collecting bags, that all compensation will have to be done online, and that we are unable to rebook flights now because of the system being down," student Emily Wilson told the Press Association.



A traveller sleeps next to luggage at Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 after British Airways flights where cancelled at Heathrow Airport in west London on May 27, 2017. PHOTO: AFP

The carrier said it was "extremely sorry" for causing inconvenience over the holiday period. The airline has suffered other IT glitches recently, leading to severe delays for passengers in July and September last year.

https://twitter.com/LiamJoHartley/status/868699507936161792