EasyJet’s IT Malfunction Causes the Cancellation of 200 Flights

Flights scheduled to be operated between 13:00 and 15:00 were cancelled or postponed due to the system’s failure, with only some passengers being able to book alternative flights and being stranded in European cities, away from their destinations, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

The airline apologized for the inconvenience caused to the passengers through a statement, assuring they were working with their IT team to fix the issue.

“Our team of IT specialists are working to restore the systems as soon as possible. We advise customers due to travel with us today to continue to check the flight tracker to check the status of their flight before making their way to the airport,” the airline explains.

In addition, the airline said that about 24 flights from Gatwick were booked for days between Saturday (May 29) and Monday (June 6), which would be affected by the error.

However, passengers pointed out that the information on the airline’s mobile app doesn’t align with the airport’s display boards, and no staff was there to help with the issues.

According to consumer groups, EasyJet’s passengers are likely eligible for compensating the financial loss, as this disruption was entirely caused by the airline’s IT infrastructure.

“Unhelpfully, some passengers seem to have been advised by EasyJet that this disruption is out of its control and an extraordinary circumstance, but the problem appears to be its own IT system, so customers are likely to be due compensation and should lodge a claim,” Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel said.

EasyJet is a Swiss-based airline founded in 1988, which operates 927 flights across 34 countries and 153 airports with 308 aircraft.

According to Eurocontrol, 80,383 minutes of delays are recorded in Europe’s current air traffic situation, with total flights operated reaching 25,327 and planned flights peaking at 14,485.

The same source shows that Easy Jet Group has been the second-top airline in terms of the number of flights, falling only behind Ryanair group, which operates 2,877 flights during Week 21. In addition, EasyJet operated 1,565 flights, followed by Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, with 1,332 and 1,213 flights, respectively.

Air France Group followed with 997 flights operated, up by three per cent compared to last week, while British Airways Group was up by one per cent, operating 739 flights.

Airlines with the fewest flights operated include Aegean Group (306), TAP Group (322) and Wideroe (342).