Aer Lingus systems BACK after almost all Dublin flights axed and thousands stranded
AER Lingus has confirmed their systems glitch is resolving - after thousands of passengers were left stranded when almost all Dublin flights were axed.
The airline was forced to cancel 51 flights after their website as well as check-in and boarding systems went down after a “major incident with a network provider”.
Most flights from 2pm onwards were cancelled after hours of chaos, with the exception of flights coming in from Spain and Portugal.
Passengers were warned not to come to Dublin Airport - as the airline had no way of contacting them
Just before 7pm, Aer Lingus confirmed the break-in connectivity had been restored and systems were coming back online.
Customers were to be contacted to be re-accommodated on new flights after the delays and cancellations.
A spokesman said: “Aer Lingus advises customers that its operations for Sunday are planned to operate as normal. Customers are advised to come to the airports at the normal time for their scheduled flight.”
Long queues formed at Dublin Airport, Cork Airport, Shannon Airport and airports around the UK and Europe as a result of the issue.
Aer Lingus passengers were warned that some flights may be delayed because of a problem with their online reservation and operation system.
But the airline later decided to cancel a huge number of Dublin Airport flights to and from the UK and Europe from 2pm onwards.
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However, flights from Portugal and Spain were operating with delays.
Flights to and from the Aer Lingus bases in Cork, Shannon and Belfast were taking off with the risk of short-notice cancellations and delays.
Regional flights - operated by Emerald Airlines - were also going ahead with the same risks.
The airline apologised for the inconvenience caused to passengers.
AIRPORT CHAOS
A spokesman said: "Due to a major incident with a network provider, our cloud-based systems enabling check-in, boarding and our website are currently unavailable.
"A UK network provider servicing the cloud-based system has experienced a major break in connectivity impacting both primary and secondary connectivity.
"At this time the provider has not been able to give Aer Lingus an estimate of the time when the break in connectivity will be restored.
"Unfortunately, this is causing severe disruption to Aer Lingus services today.
"Consequently, all flights originally scheduled to depart from Dublin Airport for European and United Kingdom destinations from 2.00pm onwards today (Saturday 10th September) have had to be cancelled.
"As we are currently unable to communicate directly with customers, we are asking customers booked to travel on those flights not to come to Dublin Airport.
"We sincerely apologise to all customers impacted by today's disruption and cancellations."
RESCHEDULE FREE OF CHARGE
Aer Lingus has said passengers affected by the major outage will be able to reschedule their flights for free.
They added: "Any customer impacted by today's disruptions will be able to change their travel plans, free of charge either through our call centre or social media channels.
"We will advise customers when IT systems are restored and this change option is fully available to our customers.
"As soon as systems are restored our teams will work to re-accommodate those impacted as efficiently as possible, and share information regarding customers' rights and the airlines' obligations under Regulation (EC) 261/2004.
"We are working intensively with our system partners and their network partners to resolve the connection issues as soon as possible."
A number of passengers took to social media to ask Aer Lingus for an update this morning.
'WHAT'S GOING ON?'
One said: " what is going on at Dublin Airport? Your site is down/no info being given."
Another added: " what is happening in T2 with Aer Lingus this morning?
"Check in queues not moving. Looks like a system issue??"
Someone else said: "Hey what’s happening with your IT outage today.
"Anyone with bags can’t check in. Cust Svcs can’t access booking systems. Queues filling T2."
'COOPERATE WITH TEAMS'
Dublin Airport has asked passengers to "cooperate with our teams" as staff help to deal with the issue.
They said: "Due to an IT outage is experiencing an internal issue at present impacting their check in & boarding processes.
"As they work to resolve the issue we ask guests to cooperate with our teams.
"This is not impacting any other airlines. We thank everyone for their patience."
'RESCUE FARES'
And Ryanair have announced "rescue fares" for people affected by the outage.
They have offered €100 flights to those left waiting at Irish airports.
A spokesperson said: "Ryanair today offer rescue fares for passengers who have been left stranded and unable to travel due to Aer Lingus system failures at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports.
"Aer Lingus passengers who have been stranded can book special €100 rescue fares at Ryanair's ticket desks at all three airports."
FLIGHTS SCRAPPED
Meanwhile, Ryanair has scrapped all flights to a popular airport in Europe until at least next spring.
The low-cost airline said that high fuel costs this winter along with new airport charges caused the cancellations.
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary confirmed that flights to Zaventem in Brussels will stop because of a new flight tax at the airport.
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Flights will move the flights by the end of the month until at least March 2023.
He said: "This winter is going to be extremely challenging, with higher fuel costs, so an increase in airport charges like in Zaventem is not sustainable.”
