A widespread disruption in Microsoft Corp.’s cloud services wreaked havoc on global aviation operations, causing extensive flight cancellations and delays, notably impacting major airlines in India such as IndiGo, Akasa Airlines, and SpiceJet.
The outage, attributed to technical glitches within Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, forced airlines worldwide to ground planes and resort to manual operations, severely affecting passenger services. IndiGo, India’s largest domestic carrier, confirmed that its network systems were significantly impacted by the ongoing issues with Azure. Passengers faced mounting frustrations as check-in and other critical systems faltered across airports. Social media platforms became a venting ground for stranded travellers, highlighting the ripple effect of the digital infrastructure breakdown on travel plans. Akasa Airlines, operating out of Mumbai and Delhi airports, issued a statement acknowledging temporary unavailability of online services including booking, check-in, and manage booking functions due to infrastructure issues with their service provider.
SpiceJet, in a similar vein, informed passengers about the technical issue affecting their ability to provide updates on flight disruptions. The airline urged passengers to stay patient while their teams worked towards resolving the issue swiftly. Air India Express also joined the chorus of affected airlines, notifying travellers about the widespread impact on digital and airport operations globally. The airline advised passengers to plan for potential delays and allocate sufficient time for airport procedures amidst the ongoing disruptions. The incident underscored vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure that underpin critical airline operations, prompting a scramble among airlines to mitigate the fallout and restore normalcy swiftly. The disruption not only highlighted the dependence of modern aviation on cloud-based technologies but also raised questions about contingency planning and resilience in the face of such unforeseen technical failures.
Passengers reported instances of confusion and inconvenience, with some recounting announcements onboard regarding the inability of airlines to verify passenger details due to system failures. As airlines and their service providers work round-the-clock to rectify the situation, industry experts emphasize the need for robust backup systems and crisis management protocols to prevent future disruptions of this magnitude. The aftermath of the Microsoft cloud outage serves as a stark reminder of the interconnected nature of global aviation and the critical role of digital infrastructure stability in maintaining seamless travel experiences for passengers worldwide.
