Travellers face disruptions as Gatwick Airport struggles to recover from a global outage.

London’s Gatwick Airport is experiencing significant travel delays today due to a global IT outage that continues to affect departures. Although the technical issues have been resolved, the impact on flight schedules is ongoing, causing frustration among travellers.

The outage comes during one of Gatwick’s busiest summers, with the airport hosting 56 airlines flying to 223 destinations, including new routes to Gothenburg, Vagar, Ponta Delgada, and Salerno that began on July 13.

Despite the suspension of planned strikes for July, airport staff are working tirelessly to restore normal operations. Below is the list of today’s cancelled arrivals and departures at Gatwick:

Cancelled Arrivals:

• 7:40 am – easyJet EJU8382 from Lyon
• 8:00 am – easyJet EJU8078 from Malaga
• 8:25 am – Tui TOM045 from Montego Bay
• 9:25 am – easyJet EJU8512 from Lisbon
• 11:20 am – easyJet EZY8630 from Berlin
• 12:30 pm – easyJet EZY8812 from Tivat
• 12:55 pm – easyJet EZY8286 from Cantania
• 3:15 pm – easyJet TOM207 from Mugla
• 8:40 pm – BA BA2745 from Santorini

Delayed Departures:

• 7:45 am – British Airways BA2752 to Heraklion
• 7:55 am – British Airways BA2574 to Nice (Enquire Airline)
• 8:15 am – easyJet EJU8429 to Lyon (Enquire Airline)
• 8:40 am – easyJet EJU8079 to Malaga (Enquire Airline)
• 9:25 am – Eastern Airways T3452 to Newquay
• 10:00 am – Norse Z0723 to Miami
• 10:05 am – easyJet EJU8513 to Lisbon (Enquire Airline)
• 10:10 am – Wizz Air W95709 to Mugla
• 11:25 am – British Airways BA2744 to Thira Santorini (Enquire Airline)
• 11:55 am – Air Baltic BT6060/KM Malta KM117 to Malta
• 12:05 pm – ITA AZ215 to Rome
• 12:15 pm – easyJet EZY8085 to Palma
• 12:15 pm – easyJet EZY847 to Inverness
• 12:40 pm – British Airways BA2750 to Rhodes
• 1:20 pm – Tui TOM436 to Hurghada
• 1:35 pm – British Airways BA2794 to Antalya
• 1:35 pm – easyJet EZY8553 to Bordum
• 1:50 pm – British Airways BA2702 to Tenerife South
• 1:55 pm – British Airways BA2816 to Algiers
• 6:10 pm – British Airways BA2672 to Palma de Mallorca
• 7:30 pm – easyJet EJU8627 to Berlin

Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest information regarding their flights.

Analysis:

Political:

The IT outage at Gatwick raises questions about the resilience and security of infrastructure in major transport hubs, highlighting the need for robust contingency plans and possibly inviting government scrutiny.

Social:

The disruption affects thousands of passengers, causing significant inconvenience and potentially straining resources at Gatwick. The incident underscores the importance of efficient communication and customer service during crises.

Economic:

The delays and cancellations could lead to financial losses for airlines and the airport, while also impacting passengers’ plans and expenses. This highlights the economic ripple effects of technological failures in critical infrastructure.