Flights to and from Vancouver may be impacted due to a global technology outage on Friday, July 19.
Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike said the faulty software update affected computers running Microsoft Windows and was not caused by a hacking incident or cyberattack.
Long lines formed at airports in the U.S., Europe and Asia as airlines lost access to check-in and booking services at a time when many travellers are heading away on summer vacations.
Widespread problems were reported at Australian airports, where lines grew and some passengers were stranded as online check-in services and self-service booths were disabled — although flights were still operating. Meanwhile, passengers stood in long lines at Rome’s Leonardo Da Vinci airport after flights were cancelled following a global power outage.
In the U.S., airlines United, American and Delta said that at least some flights were resuming after severe disruptions, though delays would persist.
The head of Germany’s IT security agency, Claudia Plattner, said that “the problems will last some time — we can’t expect a very quick solution.” A forecast for when exactly all systems will be up and running is difficult, but “it won’t be hours,” she added.
How does the global technology outage affect Vancouver flights?
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) issued a statement Friday morning, noting that the CrowdStrike issue continues to disrupt many technology systems, including airlines.
Passengers are advised to check their flight information with their airline and online with YVR before heading to the airport. The status of their flight may change due to the outage.
Flight cancellations and delays are possible as airports and airlines worldwide work to get their systems online.
YVR told V.I.A. in an emailed statement that the outage affects some airlines, predominantly U.S. carriers.
"As a result, air travel worldwide is impacted today, including some flights to and from YVR," it said.
"Operations at YVR are otherwise not affected."
YVR offers a tool that allows passengers to view a step-by-step guide through the airport based on their specific flight information.
Are airlines responsible for delays and cancellations caused by the outage?
Air passenger rights expert Gabor Lukas told V.I.A. that airlines are responsible for issues in their technology systems. As a result, they are liable for flights affected by outages.
"Airlines are responsible for issues with their IT," he said. "A reasonable business would have backup systems, including different operating systems (other than Windows) for contingency."
Under Canadian law, large airlines owe passengers more compensation than small ones. For example, large carriers must provide passengers $400 if they arrive late at their destination by over three hours but under six, while small ones must pay $125.
Large carriers must re-accommodate guests booked on cancelled flights with a flight on an alternative airline within 48 hours of their scheduled departure if they do not have another flight available. The airline must book flights for its guests with airlines outside of its network if no flights are available.
Examples of large airlines include Air Canada (including Jazz and Rouge), WestJet, Sunwing Airlines (now owned by WestJet), and Flair Airlines.
Travellers with international segments in their itineraries may be owed more. Airlines are liable for damages incurred from flight delays or cancellations outside of Canada, meaning travellers can recoup money for meals, hotels, lost wages, and more.
With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press.
Find more information about exciting destinations in B.C. and across the globe, as well as travel deals and tips, by signing up for V.I.A.'s weekly travel newsletter The Wanderer. Since travel deals can sell out, find out the day they are posted by signing up for our daily Travel Deals newsletter.
Want to learn more about a specific destination or have a travel concern or idea you would like V.I.A. to write about? Email us at [email protected]. Send us stories about recent holidays that you've been on, or if you have any tips you think our readers should know about.
