Technical Problems, British Airways Cancel Dozens Of Flights In Heathrow And Gatwick Since Thursday

Illustration of the British Airways fleet at Heathrow Airport London, England. (Wikimedia Commons/Tony Hisgett)

JAKARTA - British Airways airlines are facing severe disruption, with at least 42 flights being canceled again on Friday due to technical problems.

Today's cancellation of the cancellation on Thursday, when about 80 flights at Heathrow and Gatwick London Airports were canceled.

The cancellation has left thousands of families' plans for a part-time vacation in uncertainty, on a day predicted to be the busiest day for British air travel since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most of the affected flights on Friday were on short-distance routes to and from Heathrow Airport, reported The National News May 26.

The main cause of the disturbance is the IT problem which causes the aircraft and crew to be unable to operate, which has an impact on about 16,000 passengers.

We’re aware of a technical issue, which we have been working hard to fix. We apologise for the inconvenience. Please try again to check in later but worst case you can do this at the airport tomorrow. You can check your flight status here https://t.co/Nnf5kzHjBD. Si

— British Airways (@British_Airways) May 26, 2023

We’re aware of a technical issue, which we have been working hard to fix. We apologise for the inconvenience. Please try again to check in later but worst case you can do this at the airport tomorrow. You can check your flight status here https://t.co/Nnf5kzHjBD. Si

Apart from cancellations, many other flights were delayed, while some passengers reported that they could not check-in online.

A British Airways representative said: "While most of our flights continue to operate today, we have canceled some of our short-range flights from Heathrow, due to the immediate impact of the technical problems we experienced yesterday."

"We have apologized to customers whose flights were affected and offered them the option to re-order on alternative flights with us or other airlines, or ask for refunds," the airline continued.

British Airways has been trying to overcome the disruption by focusing on cancellations on routes that have multiple flights in a day, allowing passengers to be more flexible in re-ordering at alternative times.

The problem is not related to a strike by security officers at Terminal 5 Heathrow, the airport said.

@British_Airways standing in terminal 5 Heathrow where all your flights are showing cancelled and systems are down - are they really all cancelled or is this a system error???? pic.twitter.com/yrumbx0zr1

— Katharine Descamps (@KatharineJaneD) May 25, 2023

@British_Airways standing in terminal 5 Heathrow where all your flights are showing canceled and systems are down - are they really all canceled or is this a system error????? pic.twitter.com/yrumbx0zr1

Separately, aviation analytic firm Cirium said Friday was projected to be the day with the highest flight departures from UK airports since December 20, 2019, with more than 3,000 flights planned. Many families went abroad before half-semple school holidays in England and Wales.

British Airways assured customers on Thursday, saying "the system is back to activity", but warned of potential "intermittent issues".

Airlines have promised refunds or re bookings for affected customers, and will provide hotel food and accommodation for those forced to stay.

Meanwhile, passengers have set up long queues at Heathrow as they try to get alternative flights, while many arrive at the airport unable to get off the plane.

Vienna, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Edinburgh, Venice, Rome, Hamburg, Aberdeen and Milan are some of the goals currently affected by the problems in Heathrow. While long-distance cancellations include Boston, New York and Mumbai.

Previously, British Airways had experienced several IT failures in recent years, including a significant system error ahead of Christmas 2022. Another, a major computer system failure in 2017, displaced 75,000 passengers over the weekend.

Attention – British Airways has suffered a technical issue which is impacting some British Airways departing and arriving flights. For the status of flights please contact either British Airways or your travel provider.

— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) May 25, 2023

Attention British Airways has succeeded a technical issue which is impacting some British Airways departing and sending flights. For the status of flights please contact ether British Airways or your travel provider.